Antarctic Peninsula
When we awoke this morning, the ship was resting in front of a glacier reaching down from icy mountains to the sea. The waters around us were perfectly calm, reflecting the rich blue lines of the glacier’s deep crevasses. A multitude of icebergs decorated the bay around us. The ship soon eased to the south and anchored in the quiet waters of Neko Harbor along the western shores of the Antarctic Peninsula. Here we set out to explore the dramatic beauty of the surrounding area, by foot, Zodiac, and by kayak. There were even a couple of hardy (fool hardy?) swimmers who took a real “polar plunge” in the well-chilled waters of the bay. These frigid waters were perhaps best enjoyed as we all viewed the mirrored reflections of sculpted icebergs drifting past. Onshore, there was a small but vibrant colony of gentoo penguins. Kayaks and Zodiacs gathered in the shallows near shore to watch the penguins bathing. In the crystal clear waters they could be seen winging rapidly past us underwater. The glacier and surrounding bergs occasionally thrilled us with spectacular calving events, alerting us with resounding booms as immense pieces of ice dislodged into the water, sending large waves resonating outward to rock our boats.
In the afternoon, the Endeavour cruised the mountainous shores of the Antarctic Peninsula. We passed Chilean and Argentinean research stations as we entered the peaceful waters of Paradise Bay. Here we paused to count nesting shags on ledges rising from the sea, before continuing on our way. We reached our farthest point south at latitude 64° 54' by the early afternoon, and then turned back northward. As we entered the Errera Channel the sun was bathing the decks, and the high snow-rimmed peaks were reflecting in the polished waters on either side of the ship. Smiling faces gazed happily on passing icebergs and the slender streaks of a few scenic clouds high overhead. It was a spectacular finale as we bid adieu to this memorable southern continent.
When we awoke this morning, the ship was resting in front of a glacier reaching down from icy mountains to the sea. The waters around us were perfectly calm, reflecting the rich blue lines of the glacier’s deep crevasses. A multitude of icebergs decorated the bay around us. The ship soon eased to the south and anchored in the quiet waters of Neko Harbor along the western shores of the Antarctic Peninsula. Here we set out to explore the dramatic beauty of the surrounding area, by foot, Zodiac, and by kayak. There were even a couple of hardy (fool hardy?) swimmers who took a real “polar plunge” in the well-chilled waters of the bay. These frigid waters were perhaps best enjoyed as we all viewed the mirrored reflections of sculpted icebergs drifting past. Onshore, there was a small but vibrant colony of gentoo penguins. Kayaks and Zodiacs gathered in the shallows near shore to watch the penguins bathing. In the crystal clear waters they could be seen winging rapidly past us underwater. The glacier and surrounding bergs occasionally thrilled us with spectacular calving events, alerting us with resounding booms as immense pieces of ice dislodged into the water, sending large waves resonating outward to rock our boats.
In the afternoon, the Endeavour cruised the mountainous shores of the Antarctic Peninsula. We passed Chilean and Argentinean research stations as we entered the peaceful waters of Paradise Bay. Here we paused to count nesting shags on ledges rising from the sea, before continuing on our way. We reached our farthest point south at latitude 64° 54' by the early afternoon, and then turned back northward. As we entered the Errera Channel the sun was bathing the decks, and the high snow-rimmed peaks were reflecting in the polished waters on either side of the ship. Smiling faces gazed happily on passing icebergs and the slender streaks of a few scenic clouds high overhead. It was a spectacular finale as we bid adieu to this memorable southern continent.
