Seeing Antarctica

You cannot help but be stunned by the sheer volume as these three feet high, tuxedo wearing birds slip and slide their way around their mud caked rookery, with well over 100 thousand of them it’s not the sort of thing you tend to forget.

They preen obsessively, shoo away neighbors who encroach on their pebble nests, fend off pesky seals and chick-threatening skuas. The chicks, scrambling around forcing their beaks into their parents’ mouths for predigested food.

Penguin parents work extremely hard to feed their young. As one parent comes back with fish from the icy sea, a ritual takes place of bows and pecks and then the other heads to the ocean for their stint.

Contrary to belief, penguins aren’t that cute. Penguins are foul-smelling and noisy, pugnacious and pushy.

But large numbers of visitors to Antarctica every year to stand with them. The Antarctic really does feel like the edge of the world.

The Penguins aren’t the only thing people come to see.

There is an astonishingly beautiful landscape of icebergs resembling dragons and mythical being and glaciers with spires as tall as those found on European cathedrals and there are cialis average age seals, albatross, dolphins, whales, and icebergs.

A stadium full of football fans is about the number of people who Cialis have been to this wonderful place before. To many, Antarctica is like a dream destination, holier than any place of worship.

The first part of the adventure is the journey to Antarctica. The fascinating nature of this trip makes us forget the fact that it is indeed a bit costly. From the U.S., the journey to Antarctica has two legs; a 20-hour flight to Ushuaia in Argentina or Punta Arenas in Chile, Cape Town in South Africa, or Christchurch in New Zealand followed by a sea voyage to the icy continent.

These are alternative points of embarkation where they board ice-rated expedition cruise ships. Rough seas and several days of travel is the only way to reach The Big Ice.

The continent of Antarctica is much bigger than the U.S. and the shelves around it make its surface over three times as big With a thickness of two miles and exerting a massive pressure on the earth?s surface, this vast ice mass holds 70 percent of the Earth?s fresh water.

With nine ships plying, there is a choice of itineraries for visiting Antarctica from February 10 to 18. Most of the ships can carry between 75 and 200 passengers with only one exception Tadalis SX being a ship that carries 400.

Rather than enjoyment, the emphasis on these voyages is on learning the nuances of life in Antarctica.

Scientists busy unraveling the mysteries of Antarctica, penguins and their vast rookeries and swathes of seals in their colonies is what awaits passengers when they make landings using zodiac rafts.

Maintenance of the research stations is currently handled by the U.S., Argentina, Chile, China, Russia and a few other agencies who are parties to the Antarctic Treaty.

The Antarctic Treaty aims to dedicate the use of Antarctica for purely scientific pursuits by keeping it free from commercial and nuclear activity and totally eliminating the territorial aspirations of participating countries. Tourists are seen as a nuisance by some research stations while at a few places they are most welcome.

Hope Bay is virtually a small town full of orange-colored bungalows that constitute Argentina?s Esperanza station in which tourists are free to visit work areas, recreational facilities, the church and a school. All the meteorologists, the military personnel, their guard dogs, penguins and children seem to enjoy each others? company.

King George?s Island has Teniente Marsh station, the largest base that has been set up by Chile, and it has facilities like provisions shop, restaurant and even a post office. Not too far away is China’s Great Wall Station where you can lay your hands on casual wear and curios.

On Anvers Island, at the U.S. Palmer Station, only certain ships are allowed and, that too, at specified times. Visitors may not enter living quarters or laboratories.

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