Antarctica is one of the continents, the fifth largest. It extends 14,000,000 sq km or about 9,000,000 sq miles. 2% of its land mass is bare rock and 98% is ice - on average 2.5 km thick. It is in fact the largest desert in the world, meaning that it has a climate with less than 10 inches of annual rainfall (although it doesn't fit the normal definition of what we would consider a desert).
Despite its climate, its beauty is utterly breathtaking. It is surrounded by the Southern Ocean, and the Transatlantic Mountain Range bisects it. Although many people come to visit because of its astonishing beauty, it has no indigenous people. Several, however, have staked claim to it, including explorers like Captain James Cook of the UK. In 1773, Cook crossed the Antarctica Circle for the first time in history. Sir James Clark Ross of the UK founded the Ross Ice Shelf and Ross Sea as he was searching for the magnetic South Pole. In fact, Antarctica's only "indigenous people" are those of the nonhuman variety, including skua, petrel, albatross, krill, whales, seals, and penguins. In fact, they're unused enough to people that human visitors generally get a disinterested stare from such residents.
If you want to reach Antarctica, you need to leave from South Africa, South America, New Zealand or Australia; most ships leave and South America. At some point, you're going to cross what's known as the "Antarctic convergence," a phenomenon that exists because deep warm water from equatorial oceans converge with a deep flowing cold water from Antarctica; this creates a 30 mile wide strip of turbulent, but nutrient rich ocean that circles the Antarctic. Since it came into being 20 million or so years ago, it has proved to be a natural barrier to crustaceans and fish and there has been little exchange of marine life from one side to the other during this time.
In the Antarctica, dreams meet reality as you take in the breathtaking landscapes and seascapes. As you step onto Antarctica's bare landscape, you'll still see truly wondrous views. Depending on the tour operator you go with, there'll be between one and three landings daily, where you go on the mainland using zodiacs. Each trip lasts up to three hours with the cruises themselves normally lasting between 10 and 15 days. Once you reach land, there various things you can do and see.
Try your hand at mountain climbing, camping, kayaking or scuba diving. This may open the southern world up to you so you can enjoy sightings of penguins, seals and whales. Places to visit frequently visited include Deception Island, which is a collapsed volcano that forms a natural harbour in the Southern Shetland Islands, offering the visitor the thermally heated Pendulum Cove. Lemaire Channel has been nicknamed Kodak Gap from its popularity with visitors. This channel is between Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula cliffs. Paradise Harbour with her glaciers and breathtaking scenery could be a great way to laze away a day. The Falkland Islands are nearby, as well. These islands carry a rich history going back to the 16th century as Patagonians travelled to the Islands as well as the British, French and Argentineans.
Generally cruise ships not exceeding 250 passengers go to Antarctica. These types of expeditions are seasonal and include stops at remote areas, with wildlife viewing, and at historical huts, too. The best time travel to the Antarctica is in the summer between November and March, which has over 20 hours of sunlight in a day at that point. Temperatures vary, from between one below zero degrees Celsius to 30 below zero degrees Celsius, depending on where you are. It's also the windiest place on earth. No matter where you go on Antarctica, though, you'll marvel at the creation that lives there, and feast your eyes on a world you never thought you'd see.
Despite its climate, its beauty is utterly breathtaking. It is surrounded by the Southern Ocean, and the Transatlantic Mountain Range bisects it. Although many people come to visit because of its astonishing beauty, it has no indigenous people. Several, however, have staked claim to it, including explorers like Captain James Cook of the UK. In 1773, Cook crossed the Antarctica Circle for the first time in history. Sir James Clark Ross of the UK founded the Ross Ice Shelf and Ross Sea as he was searching for the magnetic South Pole. In fact, Antarctica's only "indigenous people" are those of the nonhuman variety, including skua, petrel, albatross, krill, whales, seals, and penguins. In fact, they're unused enough to people that human visitors generally get a disinterested stare from such residents.
If you want to reach Antarctica, you need to leave from South Africa, South America, New Zealand or Australia; most ships leave and South America. At some point, you're going to cross what's known as the "Antarctic convergence," a phenomenon that exists because deep warm water from equatorial oceans converge with a deep flowing cold water from Antarctica; this creates a 30 mile wide strip of turbulent, but nutrient rich ocean that circles the Antarctic. Since it came into being 20 million or so years ago, it has proved to be a natural barrier to crustaceans and fish and there has been little exchange of marine life from one side to the other during this time.
In the Antarctica, dreams meet reality as you take in the breathtaking landscapes and seascapes. As you step onto Antarctica's bare landscape, you'll still see truly wondrous views. Depending on the tour operator you go with, there'll be between one and three landings daily, where you go on the mainland using zodiacs. Each trip lasts up to three hours with the cruises themselves normally lasting between 10 and 15 days. Once you reach land, there various things you can do and see.
Try your hand at mountain climbing, camping, kayaking or scuba diving. This may open the southern world up to you so you can enjoy sightings of penguins, seals and whales. Places to visit frequently visited include Deception Island, which is a collapsed volcano that forms a natural harbour in the Southern Shetland Islands, offering the visitor the thermally heated Pendulum Cove. Lemaire Channel has been nicknamed Kodak Gap from its popularity with visitors. This channel is between Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula cliffs. Paradise Harbour with her glaciers and breathtaking scenery could be a great way to laze away a day. The Falkland Islands are nearby, as well. These islands carry a rich history going back to the 16th century as Patagonians travelled to the Islands as well as the British, French and Argentineans.
Generally cruise ships not exceeding 250 passengers go to Antarctica. These types of expeditions are seasonal and include stops at remote areas, with wildlife viewing, and at historical huts, too. The best time travel to the Antarctica is in the summer between November and March, which has over 20 hours of sunlight in a day at that point. Temperatures vary, from between one below zero degrees Celsius to 30 below zero degrees Celsius, depending on where you are. It's also the windiest place on earth. No matter where you go on Antarctica, though, you'll marvel at the creation that lives there, and feast your eyes on a world you never thought you'd see.
About the Author:
Jeff Paulett is a partner of Coastal Cruises, if you would like to know more about cruising the Antarctic, please visit their site at Antarctica-Cruising.com.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment