Antarctica
Last evening the Endeavour set off on her most recent adventure to Antarctica. She left Ushuaia, Argentina full of excited and adventurous guests. The first leg of the trip began cruising down the Beagle Channel. It was bright and sunny as we made our way to the open ocean, affording everyone an opportunity to bird watch and a chance to absorb the breathtaking scenery. Just as the guests were finishing dinner, a beautiful sunset was taking place, followed by a full moon rising over the mountains.
Early this morning the Endeavour entered the Drake Passage, where she will have a two day crossing of open ocean to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Along the way the naturalist staff will be giving lectures on the wildlife of the southern oceans, as well as pertinent environmental issues, which are unique to this part of the world.
The crossing affords bird watchers an incredible experience: black-browed albatross and pintado petrels gliding leisurely behind the ship. When we cross the convergence (an area where two bodies of waters, one cold and one warm, meet) at about ten o'clock this evening, a whole new array of birds exist, such as the Antarctic tern, and of course certain species of penguins. The convergence also signifies our official crossing into the world of Antarctica. As we journey along we are always on the look out for whales; blue, humpback, sperm, sei, and fin whales have all been sighted in this area. At the very least all guests will be on the look out for the first iceberg bigger than the ship, a traditional contest we have onboard.
We have all started upon an incredible journey to the "Ice Continent," a place which is a mix between stunning beauty and extraordinary ruggedness. It is a place most have only seen in books or heard about in stories, but for the next ten days we will experience it first hand.
Last evening the Endeavour set off on her most recent adventure to Antarctica. She left Ushuaia, Argentina full of excited and adventurous guests. The first leg of the trip began cruising down the Beagle Channel. It was bright and sunny as we made our way to the open ocean, affording everyone an opportunity to bird watch and a chance to absorb the breathtaking scenery. Just as the guests were finishing dinner, a beautiful sunset was taking place, followed by a full moon rising over the mountains.
Early this morning the Endeavour entered the Drake Passage, where she will have a two day crossing of open ocean to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Along the way the naturalist staff will be giving lectures on the wildlife of the southern oceans, as well as pertinent environmental issues, which are unique to this part of the world.
The crossing affords bird watchers an incredible experience: black-browed albatross and pintado petrels gliding leisurely behind the ship. When we cross the convergence (an area where two bodies of waters, one cold and one warm, meet) at about ten o'clock this evening, a whole new array of birds exist, such as the Antarctic tern, and of course certain species of penguins. The convergence also signifies our official crossing into the world of Antarctica. As we journey along we are always on the look out for whales; blue, humpback, sperm, sei, and fin whales have all been sighted in this area. At the very least all guests will be on the look out for the first iceberg bigger than the ship, a traditional contest we have onboard.
We have all started upon an incredible journey to the "Ice Continent," a place which is a mix between stunning beauty and extraordinary ruggedness. It is a place most have only seen in books or heard about in stories, but for the next ten days we will experience it first hand.
