From the National Geographic Explorer in South America
Nov 5, 2012 - National Geographic Explorer
Canal Kirke, Chilean Fjords
You know the saying “wait five minutes and the weather will change,” well today it was wait less than a minute and it changed. We had all kinds of weather conditions from a bit of hail, to rain, wind, calm seas, and then sunshine, plus stunning rainbows too!
In the morning, our local Chilean pilots expertly guided National Geographic Explorer through the very narrow channel in the Canal Kirke. We had to sail through this narrow gap at slack high tide as the currents race around the islands on either side of the channel. It is known as one of the most challenging places to navigate in this part of the Chilean Fjords.
In the afternoon, we went for hikes at an unnamed part of the shore along Estero Las Mountañas. There was a chance to go for a more adventurous walk up to a lake through the beautiful muskeg and forest. We discovered Cyprus trees coated with many species of lichens. It was fantastic for photography despite the ever-changing weather!
After the landing, for the first time ever, there was a chance to get a peek behind the scenes of the inner workings of an expedition ship. Anders, our storekeeper welcomed us to the bonded store with a special drink. Then the team that works so hard in the laundry set up 1,000 canapés for us to enjoy. It was a treat to learn more about all the hard work that goes into keep the ship running so smoothly.
About the Author
Stephanie Martin·Naturalist
Stephanie is a marine mammal scientist who began her career studying finback and humpback whales from a small isolated lighthouse island off the coast of Bar Harbor, Maine. This project—an effort to identify individual whales by matching dorsal fin shapes, natural color patterns and any acquired scars—sought to catalog all the mammals that populate the waters from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the New York Bight.
