Making Tracks Southward: The Antarctic Ocean

There are over seventy thousand pairs of penguins in Antarctica, and they walk around looking like they’re dressed for dinner and they own this entire land you are about to check out.

They clean themselves constantly, and actively defend themselves, their territory and their chicks from skuas and seals that come too close.

The parents will feed their little ones (who aren’t black and white yet, simply brown and fluffy) predigested food. The parents constantly feed these unruly chicks.

Once the now-full mother returns from feeding, she and the father perform a ritualistic dance of bows and pecks. Then the father takes a turn in the ocean.

Contrary to our expectations, penguins are far from cute. Not only are they aggressive and argumentative, but they also have a very foul smell.

Even so, we maintain our fascination with these birds. Our desire to visit them in their habitat has greatly increased the number of people visiting Antarctica.

You can plan on seeing many more animals in Antarctica than just the penguins. There is a slew of wildlife to witness, such as seals, whales, dolphins, and tons of other sea birds, and the landscape and seascape are breathtaking.

Some of the glaciers sport spires that put some of the European cathedrals to shame. You may be interested in traveling to a unique destination.

There have been less people in Antarctica than it takes to fill a football stadium. The continent of Antarctic can be considered Earth’s last, pure frontier.

Getting to the continent is part of the adventure. The actual voyage, though expensive, will thrill you to the core, and isn’t one often taken.

First, you’ll fly for 20 hours from the US to get to the Argentine port city of Ushuaia. Punta Arenas, Chile; Cape Town, South Africa; and Christchurch, New Zealand also offer ships that have been specially rated for the trip.

Once you leave out from the city you’ve chosen, it’s going to be several days of cruising the rough seas before you finally make it to Antarctica.

Antarctica is bigger than the US And Mexico combined, it also holds over 70 percent of the planet’s freshwater reserves and weighs so much that the earth indents there.

Ice masses surround the continent that make the area larger than North America, Greenland and Europe put together.

When you start booking your cruise, you can choose an itinerary that will last anywhere from 10 days to 28 days.

Almost all of the ships are smaller than the ones you think of when thinking of cruises. Don’t expect the same amenities as ships that sail in the Mediterranean or Caribbean.

You’ll get lectures and slide shows about Antarctica instead of casinos.

These ships will put their passengers onto rafts so that they can approach the rookeries of penguins and colonies of seals, or to get them to research stations.

At these stations, scientists investigate a wide variety of things, from the nature of the ozone layer to how life can sustain in Antarctic climates.

Only five countries have research facilities on the continent. They are the original countries who participated in signing the international agreement on Antarctica.

This makes the continent a haven for scientific study by requiring it stay commerce, nuclear and border free.

There are those who fear that bringing tourists into Antarctica is an invitation to deadly accidents.

Because of an airplane crash in 1979, the flyover tourism that was once offered is no more. Environmentalists worry that tons of tourists will endanger Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem.

They fear ski-wielding tourists visiting in droves to see the wildlife. Politicians, environmentalists, and scientists all debate tourism to Antarctica.

Each wants to have a pristine Antarctica. Then they must consider how tourists who actually see Antarctica act for the betterment of the continent.

As of this moment, no restrictions are in place for touring Antarctica. When you do go there, you must be held to the basic ideals of eco-tourism.

You can only take pictures, leave only footprints, and stay away from the natives. If you find yourself packing for a trip to the Antarctic, you should bring clothing that you can layer.

Although most of the ships will give you down filled parka jackets, you are going to have to bring your own waterproof boots and plenty of socks.

Make sure to pack your camera, as well as sunscreen and sunshades, because you aren’t going to find anywhere to buy these things on the continent and the ship will charge ridiculous prices for them.

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Category: Recreation and Leisure
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