Exploring Antarctica
The Frozen Shores
A wall of ice
Neko Harbor on the Antarctic continent is a magnificent place. At the base of the harbor lie several gigantic glaciers. Here, pressure from the immense weight of the ice is released, often accompanied by huge, thunderous cracking sounds as 500-foot walls of ice break off and plunge into the sea. Standing at the foot of this icy wall makes people look like tiny ants or penguins.
Neko Harbor
A penguin at Neko Harbor
Brown Station
Not far from Neko Harbor, in Paradise Bay, is Brown Station, one of the Argentine Antarctic research stations. Brown Station is a solitary and often deserted outpost. Behind it rises a 166-foot hill. Hiking uphill in knee-deep snow while wearing Wellington boots is strenuous work. The best way down is to follow the penguins' example and slide down on your back. Paradise Bay is often filled with pack ice, and seals can frequently be seen lounging on floating icebergs. Traveling around the bay in rubber boats can be very cold, but the breathtaking view of the glaciers makes the discomfort worthwhile.
Swimming at Whalers Bay
Another unmissable experience in Antarctica is passing through the Neptune's Bellows at Deception Island. Deception Island is essentially a partially submerged volcano. The island forms a large ring, and once you navigate through Neptune's Bellows, the only entrance, you find yourself in a highly sheltered bay. Volcanic activity at Whalers Bay heats the water at some beaches, making swimming possible. The solitude of the now-abandoned whaling station can be striking, truly giving you the feeling of being in a snow-covered ghost town.
Whalers Bay
Half Moon Island
Half Moon Island is home to another Argentine station. Its name is fitting, as it boasts a perfectly half-moon-shaped bay. This was the final stop on my Antarctic tour, and it is an absolutely amazing place to visit. It teems with life, beauty, and a sense of untamed wilderness. To miss seeing it before you die would mean missing an experience unlike any other part of our world.
Half Moon Island
Antarctica, the forgotten continent
Links:
Map of the trip