Penguin on iceberg in Antarctica © Judith Duk
Antarctica can lay claim to several prizes in the continent
stakes: it is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on earth,
and with an average altitude of 7,382ft (2,250m), it is also the
highest. The extreme frigidity and ferocious winds, as well as its
isolation at the bottom of the world, combine to make Antarctica
one of the most inhospitable places on the planet, neither
inhabited by a native population nor presided over by an indigenous
government.
Yet growing numbers of people are compelled to travel to this
vast continent, double the size of Australia; a land of pristine
whiteness, where its creatures have figured out remarkable ways to
survive a life in the freezer. The landscape is as harsh as it is
magical. Icebergs of indescribable beauty are carved and polished
into fantastic shapes and sizes by the elements, patterns of blue
ice form irregular etchings on the face of floating ice chunks, and
the roar of calving glaciers echoes between sheer-sided channel
walls. Roughly scoured peaks of rock and ice are reflected in the
serene waters of protected bays that are frequented by basking
seals and inquisitive whales. The coastal shores and sub-Antarctic
islands are home to hundreds of squawking and honking penguin
rookeries and seal colonies as well as nesting seabirds; the
incessant commotion and comic antics of half a million tuxedoed
forms is one of the most characteristic and endearing features of a
trip to the Antarctic Peninsula.
The Peninsula is the northernmost finger that points to South
America, and together with the islands of the Sub-Antarctic, is the
most visited region and the best place to view wildlife in
Antarctica. Most visits are on organised ship-based expeditions
that aim to showcase the scenic highlights of the region as well as
to educate visitors about the wildlife, historical sites and active
research bases.
Antarctica is not an easy place to get to, nor is it a cheap
holiday destination; part and parcel of this quest for adventure
will more than likely involve a rough sea crossing, as well as an
itinerary at the mercy of changing weather and ice conditions.
However, those that choose to journey to the 'end of the world' can
be sure of experiencing a voyage incomparable to any other.
