Posts Tagged ‘antarctica trip’
April 25th, 2010
If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
A chance to see Antarctica should definitely not be missed. However many are clueless about packing. Get help deciding what things are essential to have handy during Antarctica travel from this article. Do not be caught off guard by the sudden shifts in weather conditions.
Define what intolerable chilly weather means to you. Some can stand icier climates than others. This is a major consideration before booking Antarctica vacation tickets. People who get cold easily will be glad to know that Antarctica weather is more pleasant than often perceived. People generally count Antarctica among the coldest places. But Antarctica is really not that bad. antarctica cruise ship
It is important to consider garment layers for the Antarctica trip adventure. Avoid the chills by covering yourself with light warm clothing. Air remains between the clothing layers which allow you to keep warm. Better insulation is obtained from wools and silks than other fabrics. This info is useful when picking out clothes to buy for the vacation.
Pick outer clothes that protect against the harsh elements. The body will fail to warm you efficiently if you become wet or are hit by wind. This outmost layer is what makes the entire layering system effective.
Cover your body in warm layers before putting on windbreakers or raincoats. A great material for this is polar fleece. Past Antarctica trips takers will not argue about this truth. In the event that you choose not to wear fleece sweaters and pants are the next best thing you could use. adventure antarctica cruises
Clothing layer one should be all about thermal underwear of some kind. Taking Antarctica trips requires that you have these on hand and on you.Silk or wool and polypropylene are the materials favored for thermal skivvies. They are highly effective for retaining body heat.
Continuing now with talk concerning what everybody takes with them to Antarctica cruises. Take a bunch of gloves and socks with you for the travel to Antarctica.Body heat can escape via fingers and feet that have no protective covering. Two pairs of socks should keep your feet warm. It is up to you whether you would prefer thick thin or a combination.
Hands that are freezing are enough cause for some to be unhappy. Fleece or polypropylene gloves are the favored variety. The gloves that are coated with rainproof material provide extra protection. Extra pairs serve as backup in case the ones you are using get accidentally lost or ruined.
Your head needs just as much protection as the rest of you so do bring hats along for the Antarctic tour. Most of the heat in the body goes out by way of the head region.Stick with hats that protect the forehead and ears adequately. Windy conditions in the Antarctic will be bearable if you have a scarf on to shield your neck and face.
Cruising Antarctica involves adjusting to wearing layers of clothes. This is a great way of keeping your body warm. There is none of the putting pieces of destroyed items back together if you brought along extras. Keeping yourself warm guarantees you of a grand vacation.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
April 22nd, 2010
Antarctica is larger than both and Europe and comprises 10 percent of the worlds land mass.This frozen land experiences winds of 192mph and temperatures that regularly fall below minus 89 degrees Celsius. The Southern Ocean surrounds the continent of Antarctica.
However, these frigid, icy waters contain some of the riches nutrient flows on earth, allowing for life such as whales, dolphins, seals, large fish, penguins, and birds of flight to survive in an otherwise inhospitable land.Schools of micro forage, more commonly known as krill, grow in vast quantities beneath the massive ice shelves of the Antarctic.Krill is the primary diet of baleen whales, seals and penguins, and is even used in Japan as a food source for humans.antarctica travel information
The animals residing in Antarctica are well adapted to the cold, dry and windy conditions.The yearly rainfall is a mere 200 mm on the coast (less as you travel inland), and it is maintains the highest average elevation among the 7 continents.Animals which have learned to survive and thrive in these brutal weather conditions include penguins and seals.
However, Antarctica has a very special and unique natural feature that makes it important to each and every one of us.The density of the molecules in the atmosphere is so pronounced at the poles that a severe greenhouse is present.The poles absorb more of the heat energy from the sun than the rest of the earth.
Our atmosphere is comprised of approximately 79 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen.There are also minute amounts of carvbon dioxide and methane.Atmospheric gases along with water vapor are warmed by the radiant energy from the sun.The greenhouse effect is the name we give this phenomenon.antarctica trip
Polar regions collect more of these greenhouse gasses and are therefore warming faster than the more temperate regions. In the Antarctic, the rise in temperature resulting from the Greenhouse Effect is 4 times more than then the rising temperatures in temperate zones, making it the optimal place for further research on the Greenhouse Effect.
The surface of Antarctica is layered with ice - approximately three miles deep.The ice was formed by snow that has compacted for millions of years.Excavators have discovered a great deal of information on prehistoric eras by drilling and examining core samples and their atomic isotopes and prehistoric air bubbles.
What is often referred to as the “hole in the ozone layer” was caused by the release of CFC’s–chemicals used as propellants.These negatively respond with the ozone.Because of the warming effect, huge ice shelves have broken off, an action called calving.
These enormous ice sheets then float north and eventually melt.This causes sea levels to rise. Additionally, the loss of ice shelves reduces the environment necessary for krill to survive.
If the ice continues to melt, the seas could rise over 180 feet. In theory, buildings in New York would be overwhelmed and swallowed up by water like a vast geyser.Whole countries close enough to sea level may vanish, places like the archipelagos of the South Pacific and Bangladesh.
Almost everyone who has visited Antarctica describes it as a breathtaking land filled with exquisite beauty.There are many opportunities to observe wildlife.The combination of natural magnificence and the purity of the wildlife is something to treasure.
It is our responsibility to see that the splendor of Antarctica is preserved for future generations. Sadly, we see that the continent’s deterioration has been put into motion many, many years ago.Fortunately, many nations have joined forces and are now working together so some small steps toward conservation, preservation and preserving sustainability have already been taken.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
April 19th, 2010
Antarctica is both treacherous and beautiful in it’s vastness. During a typical winter morning the temp will raise to negative 25.However, the gale-forced winds that blow across this two-mile thick glacier bring a wind chill that could freeze any exposed flesh.The South Pole has to be the roughest place to be other than outer space.
The United States maintains a permanent station at the South Pole, and it is probably the most critical science station in the world and also the most isolated.Other than approved researchers and workers, the was a time when no one was allowed at the Pole. But this has evolved with the charter flights of wealthy tourists and thrill-seekers starting to arrive on the cold horizon.antarctic cruises
All that can really be seen is white.You won’t see so much as a penguin the whole time you’re there.But arriving at The Pole continues to be the rarest of experiences in our world of been there, done that.
Scientists and other official personnel who work and live at The Pole probably shudder at the thought of the station as an attraction, particularly as diesel bulldozers and cranes continue to develop the site.But is doesn’t stop visitors, as the do come frequently during research season.Attempts to block them from coming are futile.
Antarctica isn’t owned by any nation, however 43 nations signed treaties in order to protect and study an icy section as big as Mexico and the United States combined.Even during the total darkness of The Pole’s eight month long winter, the United States mans it’s three huge stations here.Whether invited or not, there is an unwritten code of the ice that compels the staff to help anybody that makes it as far as 90 degrees south of latitude.great antarctic cruise
It is important to understand that visits to this land are not promoted due to the fact that most visitors have very little knowledge about the region and fail to realize they are at an altitude of 10,000 feet.Visitors often suffer from altitude sickness, and they are dehydrated and cold.
Originally, in 1975, the dome slept thirty-three men.Today two hundred men and women clutter into every possible bed.Summer Camp, as it is called, consists of manufactured plywood, plastic, and canvas bunkhouses that sprawl across the glacier.
As in many camps, Summer Camp has access to an unlimited supply of fresh water.But melting ice with $12 per gallon fuel necessitates that shower, laundry and flush toilets are infrequent luxuries.Even though the sun is shining brightly at three in the morning, it can be treacherous to make the trek to the shared bathroom facilities.
Antarctica’s first female visitors had to be escorted by the military.Now, one-third of the summer work force are women. With their number rising, they are gladly treated as equals to the men.The South Pole doesn’t care if you are a man or a woman, it will treat you equally hard.
According to studies it take workers in extremely cold conditions three times longer to complete even a simple task.This happens because the brain is focused on producing more hormones for physical activity (to keep the body warm), resulting in less hormones being produced for problem solving.This deteriorates further during the harsh winters.
All support personnel, except for a few, will take the last airplane sometime in mid February, to winter somewhere warmer and far more hospitable.Those few, 28 men and women, will stay on the frozen land through the next six months of harsh winter.They have to deal with endless night until salvation comes in October.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
April 18th, 2010
Even for Americans that have traveled all over the world, Antarctica probably remains one continent they have yet to explore.Scientific labs are scattered across its huge, black void.In many ways this continent is very unique.It is an area in which the United States and other nations have prohibited both weapons and war.
Antarctica covers a complete continent which is basically unknown to man 163 years after sealers first discovered it in the early 1800’s. It’s an expansive continent. Take the United States and connect Mexico. Now you have the size of Antarctica.And of all that land, ninety-eight percent is covered by a huge icecap. One measure of Antarctica’s uniqueness is that its resources are virtually untouched.Further resources about antarctica cruises are located there.
These resources encompass the minerals which may be contained in the continent itself under the icecap, any oil reserves which lie offshore, and the plentiful populations of protein-rich krill which teem in the waters offshore.Alone among the continents of the world, Antarctica is a land of peace.Hopefully, the peace of Antarctica will not be disturbed by the world’s political activities especially considering that it has been ruled in this manner for many years now.
The world’s governments competed there in the 1920’s, 1930’s and a little bit in the 1940’s.Most of the governments that subsidized exploration of Antarctica eventually determined that fighting in the dark and cold or on the storm tossed seas would be simply too expensive.The continent is just too menacing to support military involvement.Even though there was an informal agreement, a treaty was finally formalized between the nations in 1959 with the signing of the Antarctic Treaty.
Twelve countries who had been on the continent for the International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958 signed this short resolution.It was during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) that these twelve nations learned to coexist in Antarctica for scientific research purposes. These research excursions serve the global community.Here is further info on Recommended Antarctica Cruises.
The continent of Antarctica was established as a military free zone by this Treaty.Providing assistance to scientific work is the only justifiable reason to launch military services to the region.The presence of radioactive waste and other materials, the explosion of atomic bombs and any military activities are forbidden.The Antarctic Treaty also provides for inspections that are unilateral and on-site, making it unique among our treaties for arms control.Every area of Antarctica is open to exploration by scientists, despite active claims on certain territories. This availability for exploration extends into the waters off the shores of the continent, and any area which is currently under dispute.
To date, none of the continent’s affairs have been moderated by the United Nations.In actuality, the treaties which are in place tend to call for minimal UN involvement.The members of the treaty believe that the current administration that monitors the science, protection and expeditions
Some years ago, there were many who thought that Antarctica was destined to become a football in a showdown between the developing countries and the industrialized world.What has actually happened is much more promising.These emerging countries, including China, India, and several Latin American nations, want to enter into the terms of the Antarctic Treaty.
Some Latin American countries have already recently become a part of the treaty as “acceding powers.”They do not possess voting powers since they do not have ongoing scientific expeditions on the continent; however, they must adhere to the treaty’s provisions.In this way, these countries will not have to throw stones from the outside of the tent because they will be allowed to join.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
April 17th, 2010
With approximately seventy thousand pairs, they are quite a sight, slipping about on a small rookery, in their snug tuxedos.
Shooing away neighbors that come close to their nests, they preen and they keep watch for a seal or skua that might cause a chicks death. The chicks, with fluffy brown down, thrust their beaks into their parents’ for food.antarctic cruises information is only a click away.
Penguins work around the clock to feed their young. When the father returns with fish from the ocean to a ritual of pecks and bows the mother heads off for his turn in the icy ocean.
Penguins are not really that cute. They’re pugnacious and pushy, foul-smelling and noisy. All the same, being able to stand amidst them, draws numbers of visitors to the Antarctic each year. The Antarctic really does feel like the edge of the world.
There’s more to the Antarctic than just penguins. There is an astonishingly beautiful landscape of icebergs resembling dragons and mythical being and glaciers with spires as tall as those found on European cathedrals and there are seals, albatross, dolphins, whales, and icebergs. If you’re looking to learn about antarctica vacations, visit their site for more details.
The number of people who have been to this exciting place before is smaller than the crowd at a typical football match. A visit to Antarctica is like life?s best dream fulfilled, with nothing left to be desired. It is adventure all the way from the moment you set out on this voyage. The fascinating nature of this trip makes us forget the fact that it is indeed a bit costly. Before the sea voyage to Antarctica, tourists from the U.S. need to endure 20 hours of air travel to Ushuaia, Argentina’s southern-most port, or Punta Arenas in Chile, Cape Town in South Africa, or Christchurch in New Zealand. Expedition cruise ships leave from these ports carrying enthusiasts to Antarctica.Despite the journey lasting several days and the seas being rough, for passengers this is the only option as of now.
The visible part of Antarctica is as we see in maps, is roughly the size of the U.S. and Mexico put together; but considering the icy shelves adjoining the continent, the area is actually the double of that.While it holds over 70 percent of Earth?s fresh water this couple of miles thick mass of ice exerts tremendous pressure on the Earth?s surface.
February 10 to 18 will see tourists selecting from nine available ships and a choice of itineraries covering Antarctica. Only one ship carries 400 passengers while all the others are relatively small and can carry only 75 to 200 passengers. Rather than fun and frolic, the mood on these ships is one of learning, with natural science and history lectures and slide shows about Antarctica.
Using zodiac rafts, passengers are taken to see scientists at work, penguins in their rookeries and vast colonies of seals.
The U.S., Argentina, Chile, China, Russia and other parties to the Antarctic Treaty maintain the research stations. Thanks to the Antarctic Treaty, participating countries have resisted the temptation of using Antarctica for commercial or nuclear activities and have maintained it as a borderless region used purely for scientific activities. Tourists are seen as a nuisance by some research stations while at a few places they are most welcome.
The work areas, recreational facilities, the church and a school are all part of Argentina?s Esperanza station at Hope Bay and are open for the tourists to visit at will.The scientific community, the armed forces, their dog squad, children and the penguins all seem to be extremely friendly with one another.
A restaurant, a convenience store and a post office are some of the facilities that exist on Chile’s Teniente Marsh station which happens to be the largest base out of the nine that exist on King George?s Island. China’s Great Wall Station is a good place to go and buy T-shirts, curios, stuffed penguins and a lot more. Barring a few ships allowed at certain specific times, no other ships are allowed anywhere close to the United States’ Palmer Station base in Anvers Island. Living quarters and research units are some places which visitors never get to see.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
April 16th, 2010
Journeying back from the South Pole in the year 1912, Captain Robert Falcon Scott met his untimely end. Famished, he and his colleagues succumbed to the cold.Scott showed great courage facing his unfortunate demise, following the extreme disappointment at losing the race to the South Pole, and this increased his popularity, and branded him a national hero.
After many years of study, we can now understand the vast dangers that explorers faced while trekking the vast Antarctic continent.In Antarctica’s winter, temperatures can fall to 90 degrees Celcius below zero, with average wind speeds of 67 kilometers per hour.Captain Scott was undoubtedly in the middle of these brutal settings without understanding or experience of how to handle Antarctica’s real hazards.antarctica cruises
Scott worked as a scientist in the Polar Regions, and the letters that he had written to his wife are filled with his overwhelming sense of seclusion.Even today, with all our current communication technology, researchers working in this area can still relate to a deep sense of feeling all alone.Scott’s death made his wife a widow and single mother to her young son.
It was several months after his death that more letters were found on his body.The supply camp was 11 miles from where he was found.The wife-made-widow of Captain Scott was waiting in New Zealand from him when she was made aware of his passing.
Historians can learn much by reading the Scott’s letters to his wife.The letters that were written during the first part of his journey spoke of his great health and he loved a hearty meal.Scott made little note of the extreme cold, saying only that the hot meals helped fend off the loss of body heat.cruises to antartica
As the excursion progressed, though, and proper nutrition was growing scarce, Scott began to change his tune.He explained that the weather was getting even more brutal and showed no mercy.He and his men were only able to consume one hot meal with two days of cold food in order to move another 11 miles.
Scott was not a newbie to the exploration field, however he had two strikes against him.He lost the race to be the first person to reach the South Pole to the Norwegian Roald Amundsen.History shows that Amundsen arrived on the 21st day of December, 1911, and Scott made it on the 18th day of January, 1911.
Scott became a national hero due to his incursion to Antarctica from 1902-1904.Scott and two others, Lieutenant Henry Bowers and Dr. Edward Wilson held onto the hope that they would survive.Unfortunately, two other men, Petty Officer Edgar Evans and Captain Lawrence Oats perished before they could make it.
They were only twenty miles away from a relief zone and they stowed supplies. Their supply of fuel and food was dangerously low by now.In one of his later letters, Scott gave his wife permission to remarry in the event of his death as he then described the brutal seventy degrees below zero temps while only having a tent around him.
In his parting letters he expressed that he did not regret the expedition that ultimately ended his life.Even in his most desperate hour, he expressed that his current position was preferred to relaxing around the house.The young people of Britain have been greatly encouraged by the strength and perseverance that Scott displayed.
Captain Scott’s expedition finished second to Roald Amundsmen in the race to the South Pole, arriving several weeks after Amundsmen.He passed away March 29, 1912.Published as “Scott’s Last Expedition,” his journals are available for study.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
February 24th, 2010
Traveling to Antarctica has plenty of surprises in store.But many people have difficulty getting organized. Get help deciding what things are essential to have handy during Antarctica travel from this article. Be ready for anything the unpredictable weather throws your way.
Define what intolerable chilly weather means to you. Some can stand icier climates than others. You must take this into account if you wish to go on Antarctica vacation. People concerned about withstanding harsh weather should know that Antarctica cold is not that harsh.People always think extreme cold weather when Antarctica is mentioned. Antarctica is actually quite pleasant. antarctica cruise prices
What you really want to think about on an Antarctica trip is having many layers. There is no sense being warm with a single bulky coat when you can achieve the same result with light layers. Layering clothing keeps you warm by trapping heat within the garments.Wool and silk wardrobes insulate more than fabrics like cotton.This is something to mull over when choosing clothes to take on the trip.
Your outer wear should be able to resist water and wind. The body will fail to warm you efficiently if you become wet or are hit by wind. The effectiveness of layering is hinged on the kind of outer garment worn.
Cover your body in warm layers before putting on windbreakers or raincoats. Fleece cloth materials are excellent insulation sources.Those who have gone on Antarctica trips are aware of this. People not fond of fleece can keep warm by donning pants and cardigans.antarctica cruise vacations
Underclothes must be the heated kind to effectively warm your skin.You will be glad you brought them once you set out for those Antarctica trips. Wool and silk as well as polypropylene are top choices for thermal underwear material. They do a superb job of maintaining heat within the body.
Now let us move on to what people pack for Antarctica cruises. Keep fingers and feet warm with gloves and socks. When you start to get cold it is usually because body heat is escaping from your hands and feet. Help your feet stay warm by piling on pairs of socks. Pick from a selection of thick and thin and combination types.
The trip can take a dramatic turn if you have fingers that have gone numb from the cold. Mittens and gloves usually are from fur or polypropylene material. You will want a pair that is both comfortable and waterproof.Even if you ruin the pair you are wearing you can relax since you brought along a spare you can use.
People bound for Antarctic adventures need to pack a few hats for the trip. Approximately 90% of your body heat is lost from your head. A good hat shields the ears and forehead from the elements. A scarf is a good idea to protect your face and neck in the windy Antarctic conditions.
Cruising Antarctica involves adjusting to wearing layers of clothes. This will help you keep warm throughout the journey. Spare yourself from the trouble of looking for lost or damaged items by bringing all an exact duplicate of everything. You are assured of a pleasant trip so long as you stay warm.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
February 22nd, 2010
Antarctica, larger than Europe or, makes up one-tenth of earth’s land mass.However, this continent is far from hospitable, with sustain winds reaching 192 mph and temperatures as low as negative 89 degrees Celsius.The continent is fully surrounded by water, specifically the Southern Ocean.
The waters off of Antarctica are some of the most nutrient rich in the world, and they support a plethora of wildlife including whales, dolphins, penguins, fish, flying birds and seals.Schools of micro forage, more commonly known as krill, grow in vast quantities beneath the massive ice shelves of the Antarctic.The chief food of the seals, whales and penguins is krill, and it is also utilized by humans in Japan.antarctica travel
The wildlife of Antarctica must be equipped to endure its harsh climate, since it is the most arid, bitterly freezing, and windiest continent.The average altitude is greater than any other area on Earth. Precipitation is merely 200 mm a year near the coastline, with much less further inland.Animals which have learned to survive and thrive in these brutal weather conditions include penguins and seals.
There is a very unique condition here in Antarctica that makes it critically valuable to mankind.A higher molecular density exists within the atmosphere at the poles. The greenhouse effect is more evident as a result of these intensified levels.The planet’s surface heats more quickly at the poles as the sun’s power is consumed more readily.
The Earth’s atmosphere composition is approximately 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.Carbon dioxide and methane are also present in small amounts.These water vapors and gases absorb the radiation from the sun’s rays and warm the area below.This is often referred to as the “greenhouse” effect.antarctica trip
With what is commonly referred to as the “slingshot effect” at the equator, the polar areas amass greater methane and carbon dioxide far quicker than warmer climates.Therefore, the temperature increase caused by the Greenhouse effect is nearly 4 to 5 times greater in the Antarctic region than any other place, making this continent essential for climate research.
The surface of Antarctica is layered with ice - approximately three miles deep.The ice layers have been building on the continent for millions of years.Studies regarding prehistoric areas are possible in this region by drilling through the ice and studying core samples, more specifically the atomic isotopes and air bubbles contained within.
The notorious gap in the ozone layer is a result of injecting many coolants into the surrounding atmospheric area with severe negative consequences.These refrigerants combine poorly with ozone.The increase in temperature has resulted in the melting of many ice shelves.
Those ice bergs then float north and slowly melt.The resulting additional water greatly brings up the altitude of sea level.In another adverse effect, the melting decreases the size of the krill’s breeding and feeding habitat.
If all the continent’s ice shelves were to disappear into the ocean, it is calculated that sea levels would increase by more than 180 feet.Essentially, this would make New York seem like Venice, with water reaching the 20th floor of the skyscrapers.Countries that are more low lying, like Bangladesh and the archipelagos of the South Pacific, would disappear entirely.
Antarctica is a breathtaking land of exquisite beauty that touches everyone who visits it. The animals don’t always view people as a threat.This is a pristine world of ice and snow, untouched by humans.
It is up to the future generations to preserve the pristine splendor or Antarctica.Sadly, we see that the continent’s deterioration has been put into motion many, many years ago.Fortunately, many nations have joined forces and are now working together so some small steps toward conservation, preservation and preserving sustainability have already been taken.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
February 17th, 2010
The highest temperatures you’ll experience in an Antarctic winter won’t be any higher than negative 25 degrees.This is compounded by the fact that the miles of glacier are home to gale force winds that can make your eyelids frozen in a second.Antarctica is one of the most harshest places to live on our Earth.
One of the most isolated and important scientific outposts is a permanent U.S. station located in this climate.The Pole at one time was barred to anyone except certified researchers and workers.But this has evolved with the charter flights of wealthy tourists and thrill-seekers starting to arrive on the cold horizon.cruises to antartica
All there is to see is white, really.There are no penguins closer than a thousand miles in any direction.It seems that the draw is to be able to say that you have stood at The Pole.
Since the South Pole has been seen as an important base for scientific discovery, those who work there likely scoff at the notion of selling out Antarctica, which could get in their way.But is doesn’t stop visitors, as the do come frequently during research season.Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to stop them.
Antarctica belongs to no one and everyone. 43 nation agreement states that scientific research can be done as well as other exploration expeditions but that does not include exploitation of the land.There is not a day that goes by that the three large U.S. stations are not staffed. This include the eight months of winter where the Pole is completely pitch-dark.The unwritten law of the Ice mandates that its crew help anybody who can get to 90 degrees south latitude, whether invited or not.great antarctic cruise
Many travelers to this area arrive ignorant of what The Pole has in store for them, and the fact that they are at an altitude of 10,000 feet, and this type of travel is discouraged.Visitors usually will arrive cold, dehydrated and experiencing altitude sickness.
In 1975, the sleeping facilities of the dome were opened to accommodate thirty-three men.Since then, this has grown ten fold to accommodate up to 200 men and women.”Summer Camp” is the name that has been given to the bunkhouses assembled of plywood, plastic, and canvas, that cover the glacier.
Fresh water is supplied in abundance at Summer Camp, so no one goes without.Limited luxuries, like showers, flushing the toilet, even laundry come from melting ice using expensive $12 a gallon fuel.It’s a long walk to the communal bathroom which can be slippery and bone chilling cold even though the sun is blazing at 3a.m.
The very first woman who came to Antarctica needed military escorts.Today, at least a third of the summer staff are female, and they are treated as colleagues.The Pole is balanced equally.
Research indicates that workers in extreme cold need three times more time to finish a simple task.This is because the brain’s chemistry reduces the hormones you need for problem solving and increases those needed for physical activity.In winter, this phenomenon gets worse.
It is in mid February that the South Pole is virtually deserted as the last aircraft leave the area.Those few, 28 men and women, will stay on the frozen land through the next six months of harsh winter.They have to deal with endless night until salvation comes in October.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
February 15th, 2010
Returning from the South Pole in 1912, Captain Robert Falcon Scott suffered a horrible death.Suffering from hypothermia and starvation, Captain Scott and the individuals accompanying him, met their death.It has been said that Scott faced his impending doom with great courage, unfortunately it came after losing his race to the South pole and his stature as a hero.
It has taken us decades, if not centuries, to gain what knowledge we have of the harsh environmental challenges that Antarctica can dish out to her visitors.In Antarctica’s winter, temperatures can fall to 90 degrees Celcius below zero, with average wind speeds of 67 kilometers per hour.Scott would have faced conditions such as these, with unfortunately an insufficient knowledge about the continent’s real dangers.antarctic cruises
As a scientist working in the Polar Regions, Scott frequently wrote to his wife about the feelings of isolation.Even with all our modern communication skills, scientists today still feel that same sense of isolation.Scott was survived by his wife, and a young son.
His body was discovered months after he expired. The letters written to his wife were among his things.The camp with his equipment was eleven miles away.The wife-made-widow of Captain Scott was waiting in New Zealand from him when she was made aware of his passing.
The letters that Scott left behind gave historians a great deal of information about his expedition. Towards the beginning of his journey, he wrote about being in excellent physical health, and spoke of how he found enjoyment in having a good meal.His letters mentioned the cold, and his complaints about it, but he claimed the hot meals the team enjoyed kept the freezing temperatures away.antarctica trip
As the letters progressed with time, Scott wasn’t as positive about his trek. He begins to describe how the cold has become more bitter and unrelenting.He and his men were only able to consume one hot meal with two days of cold food in order to move another 11 miles.
Scott was one of the brave men of the early age of exploration but it seemed as if his expedition was cursed.He lost the race to be the first person to reach the South Pole to the Norwegian Roald Amundsen.Scott made his appearance on January 18, 1912, while Amundsen had already been there on December 21, 1911.
Prior to undertaking his final expedition, Scott was considered a national hero for his invasion of Antarctica between 1902 and 1904.Nearing the end of the 1912 expedition, along with Lt. Henry Bowers and Dr. Edward Wilson, he fought for survival until the very end.Petty Officer Edgar Evans and Captain Lawrence Oat unfortunately would be overtaken by the elements and die.
With just twenty miles until the next depot, the expedition stowed their provisions.The small group was down to the last of their food and fuel.In one of his later letters, Scott gave his wife permission to remarry in the event of his death as he then described the brutal seventy degrees below zero temps while only having a tent around him.
His last missive shows no regret for the decision to take the trip which took his life.He described the journey, saying he preferred it over relaxing at home in comfort.The young people of Britain have been greatly encouraged by the strength and perseverance that Scott displayed.
Captain Scott’s expedition finished second to Roald Amundsmen in the race to the South Pole, arriving several weeks after Amundsmen.Scott died on March 29, 1912.In 1913, Scott’s journal was published under the title “Scott’s Last Expedition.”
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
January 25th, 2010
Of all the planets regions, Antarctica is the most inaccessible and the most desolate. It is the only region on Earth that all nations agreed they could share. However as more and more natural resources start to dry up, more nations are eying Antarctica as a region of additional resources.
People’s attention has been drawn away from the ice, penguins and whales towards the oil, iron and coal that are present. There is the danger that resource exploitation will change the continent from being a region of international cooperation and scientific research to one of confrontation.
So far, places such as the United States Antarctic base the scientists have only experienced a tranquil environment of sharing and cooperation between nations. Many say that the challenge of the hostile environment causes people to work together better with a spirit of adventure even when the world is fighting other wars and conflicts. antarctica cruise
The McMurdo Headquarters of the National Science Foundation, which runs the U.S Antarctica operations have a small park located nearby which is dedicated to the work and dreams of Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd. Richard Evelyn Byrd was the first to ever fly over the South Pole and led five Antarctic expeditions. He envisioned Antarctica as a region of International cooperation in science and as an example of a place where nations work together. But are such noble ideas likely to remain as the world becomes more dependent on the Earth’s minerals and the need for energy increases?
The full potential of the Antarctic as a region of mineral resource is not yet known, but there is growing interest over its potential. Now the situation has become a political issue rather than just a scientific one. Under the frozen icescape and seas that make up the Antarctic many believe that there is a large source of untouched minerals and oil reserves. cruise to antarctica
Other regions of the Earth, where oil and mineral reserves have already been discovered in great quantities are geologically identical to the Antarctic. Some offshore exploratory drilling by the United States has provided results that indicate a high possibility that hydrocarbon deposits are present. Coal and minerals have been confirmed on land with deposits of gold, lead, tin, uranium, cobalt, chromium, nickel, and titanium also present.
The regions harsh landscape and hostile conditions has made the exploitation of the region economically unwise, until recently that is. This is changing with rising prices and new technology. And environmentalists and Antarctic scientists are worried.
The idea of exploiting Antarctica for minerals is something that worries many environmentalists all around the world because it is a region that has remained unspoilt and unpolluted by man.Groups such as the Sierra Club and the International Institute for Environment and Development, in London, see inevitable conflict between environmental and commercial interests.
They agree that there must be some level of exploration to see what resources are there but the impact on the environment should also be accessed. But they are concerned that the exploration will eventually lead to the exploitation. It is oil spills that are causing the most concern.Most Antarctic life, such as birds and seals, clusters along the coasts and could be greatly affected. A spill in the region may cause more damage than in any other region because colder climates cause oil to break up and degrade at a slower rate.
In 1959 a landmark treaty turned Antarctica into a scientific preserve and the majority of what goes on there is tied in to the treaty. 12 nations were originally involved with the signing of the treaty, later Poland joined and together they ensure that the region remains free of militarization and that no nuclear waste dumping takes place. The treaty has side stepped the various overlapping territory claims but countries including Great Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Chile, and Argentina.
Technorati Tags: antarctica, antarctica trip, vacation
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!