Adventure To The Antarctic
It is a real spectacle to observe the impeccable tuxedo wearers
, as they slide about a small muddy rookery in their great numbers.
They fend off skuas and the threat of a seal or an unwanted neighbor away from their nests, whilst they preen continuously. The chicks, scramble about and force their beaks into their parents' mouths for any undigested food.
The parents are constantly feeding their young. When one parent returns from the ocean with food, a ritual of pecks and bows ensues before the mate heads off for their turn at sea.
Penguins are actually not really as cute as people think. Penguins are foul-smelling and noisy, pugnacious and pushy.
But still, they're fascinating and the opportunity to stand amongst them, close enough to be touched by their flippers, draws more numbers of tourists to visit the Antarctic. Antarctica really does feel like the edge of the Earth.
There are other things for people to enjoy. There are other sea birds, dolphins, seals, albatross and glaciers and a sea of icebergs that resemble beasts.
A stadium full of football fans is about the number of people who have been to this wonderful place before. A visit to Antarctica is like life's best dream fulfilled, with nothing left to be desired.
Getting there is part of the adventure. Despite being expensive, this trip is very special, thrilling and unusual.
Ushuaia in Argentina or Punta Arenas in Chile, Cape Town in South Africa, or Christchurch in New Zealand are the four alternative ports which travelers from the US must reach by a 20-hour flight To board ice-rated expedition cruise ships, any of these ports is an equally good option.
That's still the only way to get there, and passengers endure several days of rough seas until they reach The Big Ice.
Even though the world map shows Antarctica as roughly the size of the US and Mexico put together, if we consider the icy shelves around it, the area is actually double that size.
Antarctica holds 70 percent of Earth's fresh water and this two miles thick mass of ice exerts massive pressure on the surface of the Earth.
With nine ships plying, there is a choice of itineraries for visiting Antarctica from February 10 to 18. Except for one ship that carries 400 passengers, all the others carry a maximum of 200.
On these voyages, there are experts who are eager to explain the nuances of life on Antarctica and its history.
Hordes of penguins and seals and an army of scientists at work is what passengers get to see once they make landings in their zodiac rafts.
Besides the US, Russia and China a few other countries including Argentina, and Chile are parties to the Antarctic Treaty and maintain 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.
Sightseers are seen as unwelcome guests by some research stations while others see this as an opportunity for them to get exposed to the work going on.
At Hope Bay, on a frozen plain, there are numerous orange-colored pre-fabricated bungalows that form Argentina's Esperanza station where tourists can roam about in work areas as well as recreational facilities, church and school.
All the children around, the military staff and their dogs, the meteorologists and the penguins seem to be living together harmoniously.
Teniente Marsh station is a base built by Chile on King George's Island and it has everything from a provisions shop to a restaurant and surprisingly even a post office.
Not too far away is China's Great Wall Station where you can lay your hands on casual wear and curios.
The Palmer Station on Anvers Island is a large US base where only select ships are allowed to berth and, that too, at specific times. Visitors are not given permission to enter laboratories and residential quarters.
by: John Chambers
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