Antarctica Cruises
The cruising season in Antarctica runs from December to March when the sun remains out for much if not all of the day. Whilst at sea it is not uncommon to witness albatross soaring above your ship. A whole host of landscapes await visitors, ranging from live volcanoes through to channels of floating ice. On a good day one might even manage to visit a thermal hotspot for a dip in the water!
The Ross Sea
Ideal in its location for avid photographers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, the Ross sea provides stunning photo opportunities with its flowing ice, 4000km of coastline covered by the Trans Antarctic Mountains and several active volcanoes. The Ross Ice shelf is the largest Ice shelf in the world with glaciers and ice streams from the west Antarctic feeding it, the ice shelf covers an amazing 530 square kilometres.
Travel map of the Antarctic Peninsula Region and map of the Antarctic Continent includes Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia, South Orkneys, South Shetlands and enlargement of the Ross Island region
Featuring:
- Illustrated biographies of 30 noted explorers
- Colour photos of Antarctic scenes and wildlife
- Five heroic routes
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Antarctica has many islands that dot the coast of the region including Ross Island with the worlds most southerly active and largest Volcano.
Research Stations
One of the major research stations on Antarctica is McMurdo, located at the foot of Ross Island in McMurdo Sound, which is within 780 miles of the South Pole. Nowhere else in Antarctica are you able to penetrate this far south on any vessel.
A walk up to the Memorial Cross to Scott at the peak of Observation Hill offers beautiful views over the sound and the Ross Ice Shelf. McMurdo Sound is also home to many Orca (Killer whale).
Humpbacks and killer whales are a common sight in he narrow, glacier-lined Lemaire Channel, considered one of most beautiful passages in Antarctica, as are various penguins and elephant seals. Whether you are an avid photographer, wildlife enthusiast or just plain curious about Antarctica, choosing to cruise your way through seeing major sites proves to be an ideal way to enrich your knowledge about this fascinating and truly wild continent, using your Antarctic Explorer map as your companion throughout your visit. Antarctica is a last frontier and an entire continent dedicated to science and nature.
