"We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula."
Day 16 of our Antarctic Tour.
Lemaire Channel is a strait off Antarctica, between Kyiv Peninsula in the mainland's Graham Land and Booth Island. Nicknamed "Kodak Gap" by some, it is one of the top tourist destinations in Antarctica; steep cliffs hem in the iceberg-filled passage, which is 11 km (6.8 mi) long and just 600 metres (2,000 ft) wide at its narrowest point.
Fresh snow falling. The ice has been spectacular. The captain has done an amazing job of navigating us through the Channel.
So far this morning we have seen whales, seals, penguins and seabirds and we haven't even got off the ship yet.
View from our balcony. Another ship which flies tourists to Antarctica then they spend a couple of days on the water and fly home again. It is also a research vessel.
All rugged up ready to go exploring.
Fresh snow on my muck boots.
This penguin was collecting pebbles to make a nest.
Mini crevices in the snow.
A pair of crabeater seals.
Beautiful crystals hanging.
The colours under the ice are so beautiful.
Another crabeater.
Originally a British base now an Ukrainian.
A wooden sailing boat.
A hut/Museum
Door stopper made from the tip of a harpoon.
This iceberg has turned over as the lines would have been vertical. They are caused by air bubbles being released under the water and carving a tunnel.
We saw some interesting rocks.
A piece of ice had calved off the berg.
Leopard seal.
Our guide, Elena, got a piece of ice for us to look at.
We all dressed up for dinner tonight as it was valentines day. The ship gave everyone champagne before dinner. Tony generously ordered a nicer bottle to have with our dinner 🥂
We are out on the open sea and it's a bit rocky and I feel a bit queasy so didn't really enjoy the dinner.
A (4 photo stitch) pano from Yalour Island this morning.
Wow, those colours.
ReplyDeleteSoooo pretty
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