Danco Island & Enterprise Island
Our morning began in Gerlache Strait as we proceeded around Ronge Island and the Arctowski Peninsula to our anchorage off Danco Island. Home to a number of gentoo penguins, this place offered us a trek up through a snowfield to the highest point on the island at over 600 feet elevation. The flat plateau at the summit offered a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountain vistas and the sound of repeated avalanches on those higher peaks across the bay. Kayaking in the smooth waters offshore, we glided among stunning icebergs – some towering stories above water. We marveled at penguins flying thru the clear waters as they gathered food for the remaining chicks on rocky nests in numerous colonies along the hillside.
Leaving Danco Island at noon, we proceeded to a point off Manson Island to a stunning iceberg consisting of two towering slices divided by a low water covered bridge. The National Geographic Endeavour navigated a complete circle of the formation allowing everyone a view of the forces of nature sculpting the ice. Cameras were clicking as we positioned ourselves at the rail for those “I was there” images.
We proceeded to our afternoon visit to Enterprise Island and a view of the sunken ship Guvernøren I. A Norwegian whaling factory ship, it was considered the epitome of technical sophistication before it caught fire on January 27, 1915. The forward structure and bow project upward from the waters of the bay. Our zodiacs circled the wreck for a view of what’s left before exploring the dramatic coastline for terns and kelp gulls. Walls of glacier ice lined the shores of the bay. A dramatic iceberg with a full arch drew many to another section of the bay.
We returned to the ship tired but ready for a wonderful dinner. Our final day along the Antarctica Peninsula will begin tomorrow.
Our morning began in Gerlache Strait as we proceeded around Ronge Island and the Arctowski Peninsula to our anchorage off Danco Island. Home to a number of gentoo penguins, this place offered us a trek up through a snowfield to the highest point on the island at over 600 feet elevation. The flat plateau at the summit offered a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountain vistas and the sound of repeated avalanches on those higher peaks across the bay. Kayaking in the smooth waters offshore, we glided among stunning icebergs – some towering stories above water. We marveled at penguins flying thru the clear waters as they gathered food for the remaining chicks on rocky nests in numerous colonies along the hillside.
Leaving Danco Island at noon, we proceeded to a point off Manson Island to a stunning iceberg consisting of two towering slices divided by a low water covered bridge. The National Geographic Endeavour navigated a complete circle of the formation allowing everyone a view of the forces of nature sculpting the ice. Cameras were clicking as we positioned ourselves at the rail for those “I was there” images.
We proceeded to our afternoon visit to Enterprise Island and a view of the sunken ship Guvernøren I. A Norwegian whaling factory ship, it was considered the epitome of technical sophistication before it caught fire on January 27, 1915. The forward structure and bow project upward from the waters of the bay. Our zodiacs circled the wreck for a view of what’s left before exploring the dramatic coastline for terns and kelp gulls. Walls of glacier ice lined the shores of the bay. A dramatic iceberg with a full arch drew many to another section of the bay.
We returned to the ship tired but ready for a wonderful dinner. Our final day along the Antarctica Peninsula will begin tomorrow.
