We arrived in Port Stanley @ 5:00 AM. It is a quiet town of 2,500 people. On the day we were in port, there were 2 other large cruise ships also there and swelled the population of the town by 7,000 people!
The British are entrenched in the area and the capital of the Falklands has been Stanley since 1845.
When the Panama Canal opened in 1915 cargo ships were no longer required to endure the arduous journey around Cape Horn and the importance of the Falklands waned a bit.
Our day was an exciting one as we took a King Penguin Expedition. We went to Volunteer Point which is the home to a colony of King Penguins. Behind Emperor penguins, King penguins are the second-largest species of penguins, typically standing 3 feet tall, and are known to dive up to 350 feet into the ocean in search of fish. We also spotted colonies of gentoo and Magellanic penguins.
In order to get to the penguins we had to go through rugged landscape which can only be traversed in a 4x4 vehicle for 2 and 1/2 hours there AND 2 and 1/2 hours back. We had a VERY capable driver named Steve, who of course is our "new best friend".
Thursday, February 3, 2011
LEAVING ANTARCTICA-TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2011-A DAY AT SEA.
The Antarctic, as you now know, lies almost totally within the Antarctic Circle, which is found at the 66 degrees south latitude line. Our ship sailed 66 degrees south.
The continent of Antarctica covers a staggering five and one half million square miles and is entirely surrounded by the sea. It is rich with minerals and many believe there are probably rich deposits of ore, even petroleum here. You can understand why several nations eye the Antarctica as a rich natural resource.
Scientists, oceanographers, biologists, environmentalists and specialists studying global warming, that's who calls Antarctica "home". Much of the research is conducted during the summer months and only 1,000 of these brave souls "winter over". They seem to embrace life and they are truly living on the edge, living at the end of the earth.
The continent of Antarctica covers a staggering five and one half million square miles and is entirely surrounded by the sea. It is rich with minerals and many believe there are probably rich deposits of ore, even petroleum here. You can understand why several nations eye the Antarctica as a rich natural resource.
Scientists, oceanographers, biologists, environmentalists and specialists studying global warming, that's who calls Antarctica "home". Much of the research is conducted during the summer months and only 1,000 of these brave souls "winter over". They seem to embrace life and they are truly living on the edge, living at the end of the earth.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
CRUISING ANTARCTICA-ADMIRALTY BAY(INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH STATIONS) AND ELEPHANT ISLAND-MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2011
We cruised Admiralty Bay in the morning and were supposed to transit Elephant Island in the afternoon, but the fog prevented this. Elephant Island is at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and is the place where the legendary Sir Ernest Shackleton and his group of men were stranded in 1915.
His ship "The Endurance" was at the forefront of a new Age of Exploration and he is considered to be a hero for his journey and all without a single loss life. He and his crew survived 10 months trapped in the ice over and Antarctic winter, dragged 3 boats, supplies, men and dogs across the ice for 23 weeks and rowed through freezing temperatures for 15 days in search of landfall. Sir Ernest Shackleton was a true legendary hero.
His ship "The Endurance" was at the forefront of a new Age of Exploration and he is considered to be a hero for his journey and all without a single loss life. He and his crew survived 10 months trapped in the ice over and Antarctic winter, dragged 3 boats, supplies, men and dogs across the ice for 23 weeks and rowed through freezing temperatures for 15 days in search of landfall. Sir Ernest Shackleton was a true legendary hero.
Monday, January 31, 2011
CRUISIING ANTARCTIC WATERS-NATURE'S WONDERLAND ALL AROUND-SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2011
Penquins swimming.
View from our veranda.
Small dots are penquins.
View.
DECEPTION ISLAND IN ABOVE PHOTO.Today we cruised by Deception Island, transited "Iceberg Alley"(the Antarctic Sound) and Hope Bay. Two million King Penguins call Antarctica home and Chinstrap Penquins live on Deception Island. There are seals in these waters as well.
Dinner @ Silk Road w/ Susie & Don Campbell- the lecturer)
The Campbells with the Campbells @ Silk Road
Don and Susie Campbell
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