Elephant Island & Southern Ocean
The M.V. National Geographic Explorer continued her course north from Deception Island during the night and we arrived at Elephant Island shortly before midday. Elephant Island is a very rugged and isolated island that is situated off the eastern edge of the South Shetland Islands chain.
This island is probably best well-known for the role it played in the epic tale of survival that is Shackleton’s ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-16. After their ship Endurance was trapped and eventually crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea, Shackleton and his men were cast adrift on sea ice until they were able to launch their salvaged lifeboats and set sail for Elephant Island. From there, Shackleton and five crew set sail in a 22-foot boat across 800 miles of treacherous ocean to seek help from the whaling stations of South Georgia. The remaining 22 men on Elephant Island endured four months on a desolate rocky beach [now named Point Wild after Shackleton’s second-in-command, Frank Wild] before their welcome rescue by Shackleton and a Chilean tugboat.
As we approached the island, our guests enjoyed an IMAX movie reconstructing the tale of this incredible adventure. Settled in our comfortable lounge area it was easy to become absorbed in this tale, and all that was needed to complete the cinematic experience would have been buckets of popcorn. Of course this is best served with alternating layers of sugared and salted popcorn, as all the keenest moviegoers know, but we had the additional treat of dramatic views of the craggy island and forbidding, grey seas to amplify the effect of the film. Before long the film became reality as we were skillfully maneuvered close to treacherous Point Wild by our Bridge Officers, our arrival heralded by porpoising Chinstrap penguins and a slate-grey Minke whale.
The sight of this storm-swept beach drew gasps from our guests who murmured wonder and praise at the ingenuity and determination of the hardy men who survived this ordeal. Certainly this beach was no Portobello sands were you could stroll carefree in the sunshine, arm-in-arm with your sweetheart!
In keeping with the surrounding scenery, Staff Geologist Jason Kelley gave a fascinating presentation in the afternoon entitled ‘Ice is Nice’ and his years of knowledge of Antarctic geology and glaciology left no query unanswered. An extensive ‘Antarctic Recap’ was held before dinner giving the Expedition Team the chance to share further insight into the White Continent we are sadly leaving behind.
All eyes are now looking north to further exploration in South Georgia, Tristan de Cuhna and the oceans between.
The M.V. National Geographic Explorer continued her course north from Deception Island during the night and we arrived at Elephant Island shortly before midday. Elephant Island is a very rugged and isolated island that is situated off the eastern edge of the South Shetland Islands chain.
This island is probably best well-known for the role it played in the epic tale of survival that is Shackleton’s ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-16. After their ship Endurance was trapped and eventually crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea, Shackleton and his men were cast adrift on sea ice until they were able to launch their salvaged lifeboats and set sail for Elephant Island. From there, Shackleton and five crew set sail in a 22-foot boat across 800 miles of treacherous ocean to seek help from the whaling stations of South Georgia. The remaining 22 men on Elephant Island endured four months on a desolate rocky beach [now named Point Wild after Shackleton’s second-in-command, Frank Wild] before their welcome rescue by Shackleton and a Chilean tugboat.
As we approached the island, our guests enjoyed an IMAX movie reconstructing the tale of this incredible adventure. Settled in our comfortable lounge area it was easy to become absorbed in this tale, and all that was needed to complete the cinematic experience would have been buckets of popcorn. Of course this is best served with alternating layers of sugared and salted popcorn, as all the keenest moviegoers know, but we had the additional treat of dramatic views of the craggy island and forbidding, grey seas to amplify the effect of the film. Before long the film became reality as we were skillfully maneuvered close to treacherous Point Wild by our Bridge Officers, our arrival heralded by porpoising Chinstrap penguins and a slate-grey Minke whale.
The sight of this storm-swept beach drew gasps from our guests who murmured wonder and praise at the ingenuity and determination of the hardy men who survived this ordeal. Certainly this beach was no Portobello sands were you could stroll carefree in the sunshine, arm-in-arm with your sweetheart!
In keeping with the surrounding scenery, Staff Geologist Jason Kelley gave a fascinating presentation in the afternoon entitled ‘Ice is Nice’ and his years of knowledge of Antarctic geology and glaciology left no query unanswered. An extensive ‘Antarctic Recap’ was held before dinner giving the Expedition Team the chance to share further insight into the White Continent we are sadly leaving behind.
All eyes are now looking north to further exploration in South Georgia, Tristan de Cuhna and the oceans between.
