Antarctica: A Journey Etched on My Heart
Some journeys live quietly on your calendar. Others change you forever. This one began long before I ever saw ice Before the Ice: Anticipation in the South The adventure started in rainy, ...
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Stop Dreaming, Start Planning: Your journey to the End of the Earth starts here with Vincent Vacations. If Antarctica has always been on your travel bucket list, there is no better time or guide to make it happen than now. Our expert travel agents specialize in creating once-in-a-lifetime expeditions to this breathtaking and remote continent.
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Embarking on an Antarctica expedition cruise is a journey of a lifetime — one that requires expert planning and trustworthy guidance. Vincent Vacations stands out as the premier travel agency specializing in crafting unforgettable Antarctic adventures tailored to your dreams and expectations.
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Embarking on a sailing adventure to Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that combines breathtaking landscapes, unique wildlife encounters, and unparalleled exploration. Choosing the right expedition supplier is key to ensuring your journey is safe, comfortable, and unforgettable. Our guide introduces you to the leading companies offering sailing experiences to this remote and pristine continent, each bringing its own unique style and expertise.
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Imagine embarking on a journey to the world's most pristine and untouched continent, Antarctica. PONANT cruises offer an unforgettable experience, blending luxury with adventure. With Vincent Vacations as your trusted travel partner, you can ensure a seamless and memorable trip. Our expert travel agents are dedicated to providing personalized service, helping you choose the perfect itinerary that suits your desires.
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Antarctica, the frozen continent at the bottom of the world, is a dream destination for many travelers. For those who want to explore this vast, icy landscape, expedition cruises offer an unparalleled experience. Among the leading operators are Lindblad Expeditions, Quark Expeditions, PONANT, Silversea, Hurtigruten/HX, Seabourn, and Abercrombie & Kent - Cruises.
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The National Geographic Endurance, launched in 2021, is a game-changer in the world of expedition cruising. Built specifically for Arctic and Antarctica expeditions, this ship offers the perfect blend of adventure, comfort, and educational experiences, making it an ideal choice for travelers seeking to explore the world's most remote and breathtaking regions.
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Embarking on an expedition to Antarctica with Lindblad Expeditions is a journey that promises to leave you awestruck and inspired. With a legacy spanning over five decades, Lindblad has pioneered travel to this enchanting continent, offering an experience that combines adventure, exploration, and unparalleled access to one of Earth's most pristine environments. Whether you're drawn by the majestic landscapes of ice and snow, the vibrant wildlife, or the thrill of exploring a relatively untouched region, Lindblad Expeditions crafts a journey that is both exhilarating and transformative.
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Embarking on an adventure to Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, offering breathtaking landscapes, incredible wildlife, and unparalleled exploration opportunities. Lindblad Expeditions, with its rich history and expertise in expedition travel, provides the perfect platform for this journey. Since pioneering the first tourist expeditions to Antarctica over five decades ago, Lindblad has honed its ability to deliver the safest and most immersive experiences in this captivating region.
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Viking Expeditions offers travelers an opportunity to explore some of the most remote and breathtaking destinations on Earth, with a focus on adventure, education, and luxury. Among their most captivating itineraries are those that take travelers to the icy landscapes of Antarctica. This journey is not just about reaching the end of the Earth but immersing oneself in an experience filled with wildlife, stunning natural beauty, and educational insights.
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Viking Expeditions offers an unparalleled journey into the icy landscapes of Antarctica, a destination that embodies both adventure and serenity. This vast and untouched continent is a dream for many travelers, and with Viking, the experience is elevated to new heights through luxurious comfort, educational insights, and thrilling excursions.
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For travelers seeking an adventure that pushes beyond the boundaries of conventional travel, Antarctica stands as a beacon of unparalleled exploration. Among the pioneers in this realm is Lindblad Expeditions, renowned for its expertise in navigating the icy waters of Antarctica. With a legacy spanning over five decades, Lindblad Expeditions has redefined the art of expedition travel, offering guests an immersive experience that combines unparalleled adventure with comfort and safety.
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Hurtigruten cruises offer an unparalleled journey into the heart of nature's most untouched and majestic regions. Whether you're drawn to the icy landscapes of Antarctica or the vibrant Northern Lights of the Arctic Circle, Hurtigruten's expeditions promise an adventure like no other. With a focus on sustainability and exploration, these cruises bring travelers closer to the wilds of our planet in ways that are both exhilarating and educational.
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For travelers seeking adventure beyond the ordinary, Viking Expeditions offers an unparalleled experience aboard their state-of-the-art ships, Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis. These vessels, launched in 2022, are designed to navigate the icy waters of Antarctica and other remote regions with comfort and style. Let's delve into the exciting world of Viking Expeditions and uncover the highlights of their journeys to Antarctica and beyond.
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For those who crave adventure and the thrill of exploring the most remote and awe-inspiring corners of our planet, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions offers unparalleled journeys to the polar regions. With a legacy of pioneering expeditions dating back to 1896, Hurtigruten Expeditions combines expedition expertise with luxurious comfort, providing travelers with the ultimate polar exploration experience.
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Viking Expeditions offers an unparalleled adventure for travelers seeking to explore one of the most remote and breathtaking destinations on Earth: Antarctica. This icy landscape, teeming with wildlife and majestic natural beauty, is a true frontier for adventure-seekers. Viking's innovative itineraries not only take you to the heart of Antarctica but also provide a luxurious and educational journey, ensuring that every moment is as enriching as it is exhilarating.
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Antarctica, often referred to as the last uncharted continent, is a destination that inspires adventure and awe in travelers worldwide. Among the many cruise lines that venture into its icy waters, Lindblad Expeditions stands out for its pioneering spirit and unmatched expertise in expedition travel. With decades of experience in exploring the White Continent, Lindblad Expeditions has evolved into the premier choice for those seeking an in-depth, enriching experience in Antarctica.
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Embarking on an expedition to the polar regions is a journey of a lifetime, filled with breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled wildlife encounters. HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, a pioneer in polar exploration since 1896, offers an immersive experience that combines adventure, luxury, and sustainability. Whether you're drawn to the icy tundras of Antarctica or the majestic fjords of the Arctic, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions provides a comprehensive and enriching travel experience.
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For those who crave adventure and a deep connection with nature, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions offers a journey like no other. With a legacy spanning over a century, this pioneering expedition cruise line takes travelers to the most remote and breathtaking corners of the globe—Antarctica, the Arctic, and beyond. Whether you're drawn to the icy landscapes of the polar regions or the vibrant culture of the Northern Lights, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions provides an unparalleled experience of exploration and luxury.
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Lindblad Expeditions has been at the forefront of Antarctica cruises for over five decades, pioneering expeditions to this enchanting continent. Their commitment to exploration, combined with their expertise in polar regions, makes them a leader in offering unparalleled experiences in Antarctica. For travelers seeking a journey that combines adventure, education, and luxury, Lindblad Expeditions stands out as a premier choice.
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Hurtigruten is renowned for its pioneering role in expedition cruising, offering travelers a chance to explore some of the most remote and breathtaking regions on Earth. With a legacy that spans over a century, Hurtigruten has perfected the art of taking adventurers to the very limits of our planet, from the icy landscapes of Antarctica to the majestic fjords of Greenland. This article delves into the key highlights of Hurtigruten's expeditions, showcasing what sets them apart in the world of polar cruising.
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Traveling to remote destinations like Antarctica and the Arctic is a dream come true for many adventurers and nature lovers. With Viking Expeditions, this dream becomes a reality, offering a blend of adventure, comfort, and exploration that few other cruise lines can match. Viking Expeditions, part of the Viking Cruise family, has pioneered a new approach to expedition cruising, combining the thrill of discovery with the luxury and amenities that Viking is known for.
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HX Hurtigruten Expeditions has been leading the way in polar explorations since 1896, offering travelers the chance to immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes of Antarctica and the Arctic. Their expeditions combine adventure, luxury, and sustainability, ensuring that each journey not only leaves an indelible mark on travelers but also supports the preservation of these pristine environments.
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Embarking on a polar cruise with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions is a journey that will leave you with memories that last a lifetime. Since 1896, Hurtigruten has been pioneering polar exploration, taking travelers to the most remote and awe-inspiring destinations on Earth. Their expeditions are designed to blend adventure with luxury, making them perfect for those seeking not just a vacation, but a transformative experience.
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Hurtigruten is renowned for taking travelers on unforgettable journeys to the planet's most breathtaking polar regions. As a travel business specializing in cruise vacations, we invite you to explore the wonders of Antarctica, Greenland, and beyond on board one of Hurtigruten's state-of-the-art expedition ships. With a legacy that spans over a century, Hurtigruten Expeditions offers a unique blend of adventure, scientific exploration, and luxurious comfort.
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Viking Expeditions offers travelers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the most remote and breathtaking regions on Earth. With itineraries that span from the icy landscapes of Antarctica to the majestic beauty of the Arctic, Viking Expeditions combines adventure with luxury, ensuring that every voyage is both enriching and unforgettable. This guide will delve into the highlights of Viking Expeditions' unique itineraries and the innovative features that set them apart.
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Imagine embarking on a journey to one of Earth's most pristine and awe-inspiring continents—Antarctica. Hurtigruten Expeditions offers an unparalleled adventure, combining the thrill of exploration with the comfort of luxury cruising. As a pioneer in Antarctic cruises for over two decades, Hurtigruten provides an immersive experience that delves deep into the heart of this icy wilderness, offering breathtaking landscapes, incredible wildlife encounters, and activities that will make your journey truly memorable.
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Viking Expeditions offers travelers a unique opportunity to explore the world's most remote and breathtaking regions, particularly in the polar areas of Antarctica and the Arctic. With their cutting-edge expedition ships, such as the Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, guests can immerse themselves in unspoiled landscapes and diverse wildlife. Let's delve into the highlights and attractions that make Viking Expeditions' polar itineraries so compelling.
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Hurtigruten Expeditions, known for its rich history since 1896, offers some of the most adventurous and enriching cruises to the world's most remote and awe-inspiring destinations: Antarctica and the Arctic. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, an adventurer, or simply someone drawn to the untouched wilderness, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions promises an experience that will transform your perspective on the world.
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Antarctica, often referred to as the "White Continent," is a destination that has captivated explorers and travelers alike for centuries. With its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, it offers a unique adventure for those seeking to explore the most remote and awe-inspiring places on Earth. HX Hurtigruten Expeditions provides an exceptional way to experience this natural wonder, combining expert expedition leadership with luxurious comfort. In this guide, we will delve into the highlights of their Antarctica cruises, exploring the activities, destinations, and what makes these voyages truly unforgettable.
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For travelers seeking a journey to the most remote and breathtaking corners of our planet, Antarctica stands as a pinnacle of adventure travel. Lindblad Expeditions, with over five decades of experience in exploring this icy frontier, offers an unparalleled expedition experience. Their commitment to safety, expertise, and intimate exploration makes them a leader in the field, providing an adventure that is both transformative and unforgettable.
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PONANT is renowned for its luxury expedition cruises, offering travelers a unique blend of adventure, refinement, and exploration in the most remote regions of the world. With a focus on Polar expeditions, PONANT takes passengers to breathtaking destinations such as Antarctica and the Arctic, providing an intimate and luxurious experience on board its state-of-the-art ships. Whether you're a seasoned explorer or looking for your next adventure, PONANT's luxury cruises are designed to deliver unforgettable moments amidst unspoiled nature.
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Embarking on an expedition cruise with Hurtigruten offers a unique opportunity to explore the world's most remote and breathtaking destinations, from the icy landscapes of Antarctica to the rugged beauty of Norway and beyond. With a legacy spanning over 120 years, Hurtigruten has evolved from offering traditional coastal voyages in Norway to operating a fleet of state-of-the-art expedition ships designed to navigate the globe's most inhospitable yet awe-inspiring regions.
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Viking Expeditions offers a unique opportunity to explore the extremities of our planet, venturing into the icy landscapes of Antarctica and the Arctic. These expeditions cater to those seeking adventure, breathtaking landscapes, and a chance to witness wildlife in its most pristine habitats. Whether you're drawn to the majestic icebergs of Antarctica or the vibrant Northern Lights of the Arctic, Viking's itineraries promise an unforgettable journey.
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Antarctica, the most remote and breathtakingly beautiful continent on Earth, is a destination that beckons adventurers and nature lovers alike. For over five decades, Lindblad Expeditions has been at the forefront of exploring this icy landscape, providing travelers with unparalleled experiences that blend adventure, education, and luxury. Their itineraries are crafted to ensure that every voyage is not just a journey but a transformative experience.
Read article →

Viking Expeditions offers an unparalleled adventure for travelers seeking to explore the vast, untouched landscapes of Antarctica and beyond. Their itineraries are designed to provide a unique blend of exploration, comfort, and educational experiences. On board the Viking Polaris, a Polar Class 6 vessel, passengers can enjoy the luxuries of a well-designed ship while immersing themselves in the natural wonders of the White Continent.
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Categories: 2021 Total Solar Eclipse
Categories: Aboa
Categories: Adélie Land
Categories: Alexander Island
Categories: Alley Glacier
Categories: Antarctic Circle Crossing
Categories: Antarctic Experience
Categories: Antarctic Peninsula
Categories: Antarctic Sound
Categories: Balleny Islands
Categories: Barrientos Island
Categories: Beaufort Island
Categories: Bellingshausen Sea
Categories: Black Glacier
Categories: Booth Island
Categories: Bouvet Island
Categories: Brown Bluff
Categories: Burke Island
Categories: Cape Adare
Categories: Cape Colbeck
Categories: Cape Hallet
Categories: Cape Roget
Categories: Charcot Island
Categories: Cierva Cove
Categories: Commonwealth Bay
Categories: Crystal Sound
Categories: Dallmann Bay
Categories: Detaille Island
Categories: Dumont d'Urville Station
Categories: English Coast
Categories: Franklin Island
Categories: French Southern Territories
Categories: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Categories: Horseshoe Island
Categories: Intercurrence Island
Categories: Liard Island
Categories: Marble Point
Categories: Marie Byrd Land
Categories: McMurdo Sound
Categories: Mcmurdo Station
Categories: Melchior Islands
Categories: Mikkelsen Harbor
Categories: Mt. Erebus
Categories: Neko Harbor
Categories: Orne Harbor
Categories: Palmer Station
Categories: Paradise Island Antarctica
Categories: Penola Strait
Categories: Peter I Island
Categories: Pourquoi Pas Island
Categories: Powell Island
Categories: Ronne Entrance
Categories: Ross Sea Region
Categories: Ruppert Coast
Categories: Schollart Channel
Categories: Signey Island
Categories: Siple Island
Categories: Skontorp Cove
Categories: Skua Glacier
Categories: South Georgia
Categories: South Orkney Islands
Categories: South Pole
Categories: South Sandwich Islands
Categories: South Shetland Islands
Categories: Stonington Island
Categories: Tera Nova Bay
Categories: Terra Nova Bay
Categories: The Antarctic Circle
Categories: The Gullet
Categories: Thurston Glacier
Categories: Torgersen Island
Categories: Victoria Land
Categories: Weddell Sea
Categories: Wordie Bay
Categories: Zucchelli Station
A visit to Antarctica is not just a trip. It is an unpredictable journey. Visitors are rewarded with a world that includes thousands of penguins, elephant seals and icebergs, even volcanoes and thermal springs.
The landscape of Antarctica is reduced to the barest elements: ice, rock, water and sky. But within those elements are variations both subtle and dramatic. Ice in all its many colors takes on shapes from floes and bergs to sheets and shelves. There is old ice and fast ice, grease ice and pancake ice, striated ice and fractured ice. And, of course, there is thin ice—the element of the unknown that reminds travelers of their vulnerability on the coldest, driest, windiest, highest and most remote of continents.
In the past decade, Antarctica has become so popular, especially for nature-based tourism, that concerns have been raised about the continent's delicate ecosystem. To protect it, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators limits the number of people allowed ashore.
Tour operators are also supposed to ensure that travelers have as little impact as possible on the wildlife and the environment, and visitors are forbidden from getting too close to wildlife.
Antarctica is about 50% larger than the U.S. and occupies nearly one-tenth of the world's landmass. Almost the entire continent (99.8%) is covered permanently by ice. With its mountains reaching heights of 16,066 ft/4,897 m, it's the highest continent in the world in average altitude. At its thickest point, the Antarctic ice cap is almost 3 mi/5 km thick. If Antarctica's ice were to melt, it would raise the level of the world's oceans about 200 ft/62 m.
The continent is vaguely round. Extending from the northwestern perimeter toward the tip of South America is the tail-like Antarctic Peninsula. The scientific outposts of 25 nations (Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, Russia and the U.S. all have multiple stations) ring the edges of Antarctica and adjacent islands clustering along the peninsula. However, with only three year-round research stations in the interior, most of the continent is uninhabited.
Though writings and maps of the ancient Greeks cryptically refer to a massive southern region of the world, Capt. James Cook was the first to find the "White Continent." He crossed the Antarctic Circle four times from 1772 to 1775 while circumnavigating the continent barricaded by icebergs. He later wrote, "I firmly believe that there is a tract of land near the Pole, which is the source of most of the ice which is spread over this vast Southern Ocean." The iceberg barricade held until 1820, when separate expeditions led by Thaddeus von Bellingshausen and Edward Bransfield caught sight of the continent. A year later, a ship skippered by John Davis landed on the continent. He was followed by sealers, whalers and explorers. The Norwegian Roald Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole, on 14 December 1911. (Robert Scott, an Englishman, reached the Pole just weeks after Amundsen but died on the way back.) Not until 1956 did the first tourists—a group of Chileans aboard a research vessel—make trips to Antarctica.
Antarctica is the only continent that does not contain a sovereign nation. Since Antarctica's discovery, seven nations—Norway, Great Britain, Chile, Argentina, Australia, France and New Zealand—have laid claim to various sections of it. Those claims were suspended in 1959, when the Antarctic Treaty set aside the continent for scientific study. Today, the continent is effectively a shared territory, governed by an international committee of 45 countries, 25 of which maintain research stations there. The participating countries cooperate in protecting Antarctica's many environmental treasures and its pristine beauty. The United States' National Science Foundation coordinates most research activities and works closely with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) to provide some centralized consistency, but there is no official governing authority.
Antarctica's main attractions are ice, volcanoes, snow, birds (including albatross and terns), high mountains (almost none of which have been scaled by humans), penguins (seven species), seals (six species), glaciers, whales (orca, humpback, southern right, minke) and fascinating barren scenery.
Flexible, tolerant and adventurous travelers looking for a unique experience will enjoy Antarctica. It is not a good destination for inexperienced travelers unless they are interested in nature and willing to put up with discomfort and spend large sums of money to see it. A trip to Antarctica is a long and expensive venture that requires a lot of enthusiasm. There are no guarantees regarding wildlife sightings, but the likelihood is high that you'll see something remarkable.
Antarctica has no official time zone, as all 24 of the world's time zones converge at the bottom of the world. Most inhabitants set their clocks to the time in their home country. Cruise ships usually keep their clocks on the same time as their port of departure.
The South Pole is colder than the North Pole by about 35 degrees F/2 degrees C. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -129 F/-89 C at Vostok, Antarctica, on 21 July 1983.
Since discovering a giant lake called Lake Vostok nearly 2.5 mi/4 km beneath Antarctic ice, researchers have found about 145 smaller ice-covered lakes. Researchers believe the subglacial lakes could contain unknown forms of bacterial life that have thrived in the oxygenless, highly pressurized environment for millions of years.
Fire is a hazard in Antarctica. The dry air and high winds make it difficult to control a fire once it starts. The extremely low temperatures require the use of chemicals to put out fires.
All plants and animals not native to Antarctica are banned by treaty. The last of the famed husky dogs were flown out in 1994.
The growing hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole was discovered in 1981 by British scientists working at the U.K.'s Halley Station.
The Antarctic Peninsula has warmed about 5 degrees F/3 degrees C in the past 50 years, causing glaciers to melt and allowing plants to spread.
Though 80% of the world's freshwater is locked in Antarctica's ice, the continent is considered a desert. Less than 1 in/2.5 cm of snow falls at the South Pole annually, and the cold air is some of the driest in the world. Because the water in Antarctica is frozen, dehydration is one of the greatest health risks.
Fossilized tree stumps, dinosaur bones and coal have been discovered in Antarctica, indicating it was once a much warmer place. The most recent theories hold that it was joined to what is now North America about 750 million years ago—some mineral deposits there are an exact match to those found in Texas.
Antarctica's otherworldly landscape has become the poor man's space program. More meteorites have been found there than anywhere else in the world, partly because the dark rocks stand out against the white ice. The cold, dry conditions are similar to Mars, giving researchers a chance to test theories about the red planet. NASA tests instruments and astronauts in the harsh, isolated conditions.
A list of travel tips and tricks for antarctica.
A visit to Antarctica is not just a trip. It is an unpredictable journey. Visitors are rewarded with a world that includes thousands of penguins, elephant seals and icebergs, even volcanoes and thermal springs.
The landscape of Antarctica is reduced to the barest elements: ice, rock, water and sky. But within those elements are variations both subtle and dramatic. Ice in all its many colors takes on shapes from floes and bergs to sheets and shelves. There is old ice and fast ice, grease ice and pancake ice, striated ice and fractured ice. And, of course, there is thin ice—the element of the unknown that reminds travelers of their vulnerability on the coldest, driest, windiest, highest and most remote of continents.
In the past decade, Antarctica has become so popular, especially for nature-based tourism, that concerns have been raised about the continent's delicate ecosystem. To protect it, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators limits the number of people allowed ashore.
Tour operators are also supposed to ensure that travelers have as little impact as possible on the wildlife and the environment, and visitors are forbidden from getting too close to wildlife.
Antarctica is about 50% larger than the U.S. and occupies nearly one-tenth of the world's landmass. Almost the entire continent (99.8%) is covered permanently by ice. With its mountains reaching heights of 16,066 ft/4,897 m, it's the highest continent in the world in average altitude. At its thickest point, the Antarctic ice cap is almost 3 mi/5 km thick. If Antarctica's ice were to melt, it would raise the level of the world's oceans about 200 ft/62 m.
The continent is vaguely round. Extending from the northwestern perimeter toward the tip of South America is the tail-like Antarctic Peninsula. The scientific outposts of 25 nations (Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, Russia and the U.S. all have multiple stations) ring the edges of Antarctica and adjacent islands clustering along the peninsula. However, with only three year-round research stations in the interior, most of the continent is uninhabited.
Though writings and maps of the ancient Greeks cryptically refer to a massive southern region of the world, Capt. James Cook was the first to find the "White Continent." He crossed the Antarctic Circle four times from 1772 to 1775 while circumnavigating the continent barricaded by icebergs. He later wrote, "I firmly believe that there is a tract of land near the Pole, which is the source of most of the ice which is spread over this vast Southern Ocean." The iceberg barricade held until 1820, when separate expeditions led by Thaddeus von Bellingshausen and Edward Bransfield caught sight of the continent. A year later, a ship skippered by John Davis landed on the continent. He was followed by sealers, whalers and explorers. The Norwegian Roald Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole, on 14 December 1911. (Robert Scott, an Englishman, reached the Pole just weeks after Amundsen but died on the way back.) Not until 1956 did the first tourists—a group of Chileans aboard a research vessel—make trips to Antarctica.
Antarctica is the only continent that does not contain a sovereign nation. Since Antarctica's discovery, seven nations—Norway, Great Britain, Chile, Argentina, Australia, France and New Zealand—have laid claim to various sections of it. Those claims were suspended in 1959, when the Antarctic Treaty set aside the continent for scientific study. Today, the continent is effectively a shared territory, governed by an international committee of 45 countries, 25 of which maintain research stations there. The participating countries cooperate in protecting Antarctica's many environmental treasures and its pristine beauty. The United States' National Science Foundation coordinates most research activities and works closely with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) to provide some centralized consistency, but there is no official governing authority.
Antarctica's main attractions are ice, volcanoes, snow, birds (including albatross and terns), high mountains (almost none of which have been scaled by humans), penguins (seven species), seals (six species), glaciers, whales (orca, humpback, southern right, minke) and fascinating barren scenery.
Flexible, tolerant and adventurous travelers looking for a unique experience will enjoy Antarctica. It is not a good destination for inexperienced travelers unless they are interested in nature and willing to put up with discomfort and spend large sums of money to see it. A trip to Antarctica is a long and expensive venture that requires a lot of enthusiasm. There are no guarantees regarding wildlife sightings, but the likelihood is high that you'll see something remarkable.
Antarctica has no official time zone, as all 24 of the world's time zones converge at the bottom of the world. Most inhabitants set their clocks to the time in their home country. Cruise ships usually keep their clocks on the same time as their port of departure.
The South Pole is colder than the North Pole by about 35 degrees F/2 degrees C. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -129 F/-89 C at Vostok, Antarctica, on 21 July 1983.
Since discovering a giant lake called Lake Vostok nearly 2.5 mi/4 km beneath Antarctic ice, researchers have found about 145 smaller ice-covered lakes. Researchers believe the subglacial lakes could contain unknown forms of bacterial life that have thrived in the oxygenless, highly pressurized environment for millions of years.
Fire is a hazard in Antarctica. The dry air and high winds make it difficult to control a fire once it starts. The extremely low temperatures require the use of chemicals to put out fires.
All plants and animals not native to Antarctica are banned by treaty. The last of the famed husky dogs were flown out in 1994.
The growing hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole was discovered in 1981 by British scientists working at the U.K.'s Halley Station.
The Antarctic Peninsula has warmed about 5 degrees F/3 degrees C in the past 50 years, causing glaciers to melt and allowing plants to spread.
Though 80% of the world's freshwater is locked in Antarctica's ice, the continent is considered a desert. Less than 1 in/2.5 cm of snow falls at the South Pole annually, and the cold air is some of the driest in the world. Because the water in Antarctica is frozen, dehydration is one of the greatest health risks.
Fossilized tree stumps, dinosaur bones and coal have been discovered in Antarctica, indicating it was once a much warmer place. The most recent theories hold that it was joined to what is now North America about 750 million years ago—some mineral deposits there are an exact match to those found in Texas.
Antarctica's otherworldly landscape has become the poor man's space program. More meteorites have been found there than anywhere else in the world, partly because the dark rocks stand out against the white ice. The cold, dry conditions are similar to Mars, giving researchers a chance to test theories about the red planet. NASA tests instruments and astronauts in the harsh, isolated conditions.
A list of travel tips and tricks for antarctica.
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