Icebergs of Antarctica

Few places on the planet invoke such visions simply at the mention of the Seventh Continent as Antarctica. Whether it is the endless miles of ice, the dark isolation, fluffy penguins, the mammoth icebergs or incredible sea life, only a lucky few of us will get to see it for ourselves.

A recent visit to this “end of the world place” in their peak summer months (January-February) allowed for an unusual picture-perfect opportunity to capture some of nature’s grandest displays. Accessible by boat service from Tierra del Fuego, it usually takes two full days through the often-turbulent Drake’s Passage.

This is at the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. With nature’s generosity and almost twenty hours of magnificent daylight, we were able to capture the ever-changing moods of the days, the animal life and the icebergs, while enjoying the tempo of this (perhaps) last, pristine eco-environment on earth. Fewer than 80,000 persons from times recorded have ever visited Antarctica, and recent calamities will continue to reduce tourism accessibility.

Preparation for a visit to this region includes a collection of thermal clothing, high water boots and a variety of apparel for ever-changing weather. Sun and sleet, sun and rain can happen within minutes. Temperature at the time of my visit hovered between 18 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Landings are only accessible by zodiac boats expertly manned by well-trained naturalist/geologist guides. They are the eyes and ears for potential problems of danger. Only 65 people are allowed on land at one time.

 

On ship or land, one is awe-struck by the icebergs, some the size of a large apartment house or a Gothic church. These icebergs appear to be mountains with their windswept buttes and large icicles. One is taken aback when viewing these mountains with the knowledge that only one seventh of the icebergs appear above the water line.

Icebergs often collide and scrape each other, causing the taller one to topple over. Tall vertical icebergs suddenly break apart and become horizontals, glistening in the water  in the bright sun. Often you will find icebergs that resemble sculptures - a  dog or a pig or even a person. When the sun begins to steal away into the sky, the colors from the inside the iceberg begin to glow.

All the ice on land in Antarctica is made up of fresh water. Precipitation that falls as snow seldom melts in cold conditions. It piles up on top of the flakes from the last snowfall. The weight of one snowfall atop another compresses the flakes, and over a period of several years, the snow turns to little granulated balls called “firn.” After a further few years of accumulation of snow, the firn becomes ice. This process occurs all over Antarctica and results in a build-ip of glaciers and icebergs.

The air is important in determining the color of the ice. Ice itself is actually blue, but it will seldom look that way unless you are looking at a large piece of glacial ice. We need a large chunk of ice to reflect back enough blue light for us to recognize it. Glacial ice is big enough to show the blue color scatter - the ice in our drink is not.

While icebergs are made of fresh water, the ocean also freezes, forming sea ice. Every winter the sea around Antarctica freezes, and every summer most of the new ice melts again. The frozen sea water (3 to 9 feet thick) provides an important habitat for plants and animals, above and below the surface. Seals and penguins use the sea ice (and icebergs) as a place to rest.

Witness the dramatic beauty of spectacular iceberg sculptures, marvel at the glaciers and experience up-close encounters with marine mammals. A zodiac cruise amongst colorful icebergs is a must. Here you are bound to see seals sun-bathing on slow-moving ice floes close at hand. Or else penguins languishing in the sun, staring at their predators.

Antarctic’s harsh conditions and geographic location translate to “desolate” in all languages except “penguin-speak.” This is what makes it so attractive to adventurers. No indigenous populations inhabit the continent, and the penguins far outnumber the human residents.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and people who want to live life to the fullest and enjoy the dwindling beauties and simplicity of nature should take advantage and GO! Follow in the footsteps of Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott as you enjoy your adventure.