Drake Passage
After many long journeys, our paths converged yesterday in Ushuaia, Argentina, where we boarded the MS National Geographic Endeavour. From Ushuaia, we set off and headed south and further south on a journey to the white continent – Antarctica.
But it is no straightforward voyage. Between the shores of Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica lies the Drake Passage, over 600 miles of exposed Southern Ocean and one of the most feared and revered stretches of water on the planet. Today the Drake was kind to us. While not calm, a following sea spared us from the worst of what the Drake can offer. And the blue skies and sunshine were a most welcome bonus.
During the day, we were introduced to the seabirds of the Southern Ocean, with views from the deck of many species around the ship including five species of albatross. These birds are the masters of the skies in the Southern Ocean. Among those seen today were wandering albatrosses from South Georgia, black-browed albatrosses from the Falkland Islands and royal albatrosses (pictured) from New Zealand. These birds have travelled thousands of miles on an eleven foot wingspan to cross paths with our journey today.
As we headed south the sea temperature dropped to less than 1°C as we crossed the Antarctic Convergence – the oceanographic and biological boundary to Antarctica. Overnight we will cross latitude 60°S, the political boundary to Antarctica. Tonight we went to our beds in anticipation of seeing Antarctica tomorrow with dreams filled of a new continent, icebergs and penguins.
After many long journeys, our paths converged yesterday in Ushuaia, Argentina, where we boarded the MS National Geographic Endeavour. From Ushuaia, we set off and headed south and further south on a journey to the white continent – Antarctica.
But it is no straightforward voyage. Between the shores of Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica lies the Drake Passage, over 600 miles of exposed Southern Ocean and one of the most feared and revered stretches of water on the planet. Today the Drake was kind to us. While not calm, a following sea spared us from the worst of what the Drake can offer. And the blue skies and sunshine were a most welcome bonus.
During the day, we were introduced to the seabirds of the Southern Ocean, with views from the deck of many species around the ship including five species of albatross. These birds are the masters of the skies in the Southern Ocean. Among those seen today were wandering albatrosses from South Georgia, black-browed albatrosses from the Falkland Islands and royal albatrosses (pictured) from New Zealand. These birds have travelled thousands of miles on an eleven foot wingspan to cross paths with our journey today.
As we headed south the sea temperature dropped to less than 1°C as we crossed the Antarctic Convergence – the oceanographic and biological boundary to Antarctica. Overnight we will cross latitude 60°S, the political boundary to Antarctica. Tonight we went to our beds in anticipation of seeing Antarctica tomorrow with dreams filled of a new continent, icebergs and penguins.
