Antarctica Day 4: Gerlache Strait
Today we are cruising down the Gerlache Strait to see the Neumayer Glacier, Wiencke Island, and Anvers Island, which are all part of the Antarctica Peninsula. It is 33 degrees outside. Antarctica is the coldest place on earth, and this body of water is frozen up to 3 feet in the winter. But it is summer now, and the port lecturer, Joe May, is excited about the beautiful day we have outside. Although the ship's crew has been down here before, they never got to see the scenery due to heavy fog. We are going as far south as 65 degrees latitude. When we went to Norway a couple of years ago, we passed the Arctic Circle in the north. Here in the south the Antarctic Circle is at 66 degrees but the ship can’t go that far because Lloyd’s of London won’t insure it beyond 65. So this is as far south as we get to go. This is the last year these big ships will be allowed to come to the pristine waters of Antarctica. Due to environmental reasons, only ships using very expensive, cleaner fuel will be allowed to come. We feel very fortunate to be able to see part of the world very few people are able to go to.
The Gerlache Strait is the Antarctica I envisioned. Snow covered mountains, glaciers, icebergs. Water as smooth as glass. Quiet, peaceful, isolated. Blue and white.
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| Neumayer Glacier (above) |
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