Chilean Fjords

Throughout the early morning hours, Caledonian Star cruised along in southern Chile in the Magdalena Channel near the Fuegian Archipelago, which ultimately connects, to the Strait of Magellan. At the north end of the Magdalena Channel, after passing 6 tidewater glaciers pouring out from icecaps down through the mountains, we explored the beautiful Agostini Fjord using our Zodiacs. Despite the light drizzle, we enjoyed spectacular views of the heavily crevassed blue and white glacier, and all along the fjord we saw examples of primary succession where larger plants and trees only grow after many years of pioneering lichens, mosses, grasses and shrubs have been established. We made a landing near the head of the glacier on newly exposed bare rock where Imperial (or King) cormorants nested nearby on the cliff-sides, and flightless steamer ducks steamed along the fjord. The backdrop for today's photograph gives just a glimpse of the stunning scenery we enjoyed for several days in the Chilean Fjords.