Volcanic Rocks, Deception Island Antarctica
After a late evening hiking the beautiful Madder cliffs on Joinville Island, the Endeavour steamed across the Bransfield Strait adjacent to the South Shetland Islands. We awoke to find three humpback whales, including one youngster, feeding near the ship. It was a stunning way to start the morning with the whales in the foreground and the tall snow covered peaks of Livingston Island in the background. The morning proved to be calm with a gentle swell as we boarded Zodiacs for the wondrous valley at Baily Head on Deception Island. We wandered up the braided stream past tall cliffs of layered volcanic ejecta that rim the 10 kilometer caldera which formed over 10,000 years ago. The valley and surrounding hillsides were covered with colonies of chinstrap penguins and their attendant skuas and sheathbills. A group of over 30 hikers climbed up a scenic ridge above the cliffs overlooking the ocean to enjoy incredible views of the valley, the massive glacier on the far side of the valley, and mountains of Livingston Island.
We departed Baily Head after lunch and were treated to close views of the volcanic rocks rimming the flooded Deception caldera as the Endeavour entered Neptune’s Bellows. The ship anchored in Whalers Bay inside the caldera and we disembarked to examine the old Norwegian whaling station and more recent evidence of the British research station that was abandoned during the last significant volcanic eruptions of 1969 and 1970. After hiking up to a partial breach in the caldera wall known as Neptune’s Window, we returned to the beach where some of us braved the chilly temperatures to bathe in the volcanically-heated water along the shoreline. Late in the afternoon, the Endeavour crossed the caldera to Telefon Bay and we went ashore to see the volcanic craters associated with the 1970 eruption. A short hike uphill presented us with great views of the craters which are rimmed by glacial ice and volcanic deposits.
Following our busy and exhilarating day, we returned to the ship for a fine Philippine dinner. About 8 pm, the Endeavour departed Deception Island and turned south toward Gerlache Strait adjacent along the Antarctic Peninsula.
After a late evening hiking the beautiful Madder cliffs on Joinville Island, the Endeavour steamed across the Bransfield Strait adjacent to the South Shetland Islands. We awoke to find three humpback whales, including one youngster, feeding near the ship. It was a stunning way to start the morning with the whales in the foreground and the tall snow covered peaks of Livingston Island in the background. The morning proved to be calm with a gentle swell as we boarded Zodiacs for the wondrous valley at Baily Head on Deception Island. We wandered up the braided stream past tall cliffs of layered volcanic ejecta that rim the 10 kilometer caldera which formed over 10,000 years ago. The valley and surrounding hillsides were covered with colonies of chinstrap penguins and their attendant skuas and sheathbills. A group of over 30 hikers climbed up a scenic ridge above the cliffs overlooking the ocean to enjoy incredible views of the valley, the massive glacier on the far side of the valley, and mountains of Livingston Island.
We departed Baily Head after lunch and were treated to close views of the volcanic rocks rimming the flooded Deception caldera as the Endeavour entered Neptune’s Bellows. The ship anchored in Whalers Bay inside the caldera and we disembarked to examine the old Norwegian whaling station and more recent evidence of the British research station that was abandoned during the last significant volcanic eruptions of 1969 and 1970. After hiking up to a partial breach in the caldera wall known as Neptune’s Window, we returned to the beach where some of us braved the chilly temperatures to bathe in the volcanically-heated water along the shoreline. Late in the afternoon, the Endeavour crossed the caldera to Telefon Bay and we went ashore to see the volcanic craters associated with the 1970 eruption. A short hike uphill presented us with great views of the craters which are rimmed by glacial ice and volcanic deposits.
Following our busy and exhilarating day, we returned to the ship for a fine Philippine dinner. About 8 pm, the Endeavour departed Deception Island and turned south toward Gerlache Strait adjacent along the Antarctic Peninsula.
