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Why Antarctica?
Antarctica is the coldest, highest, driest, most inhospitable and remote continent on earth and yet many intrepid travelers dream of experiencing the thrill of such utter isolation.
Astonishing views greet the Antarctic traveller, icescapes stretching as far as the eye can see, unscalable mountains, colossal icebergs, frigid seas sustaining abundant wildlife and utter silence.
Antarctica, The White Continent,
the ultimate wildness.
Twice as big as Australia, an ice sheet covers around 98% of Antarctica’s surface. It contains 90% of the world’s ice and 70% of the world’s fresh water. At its thickest point the ice sheet is almost a mile deep.
Abundant Wildlife
The White Continent is home to an incredible array of wildlife that have adapted to survive in these harsh conditions. Krill-rich seas abound in Humpback, Minke and Orca whales, dolphins, fur seals and sea lions; while the land hosts colonies of Chinstrap and Adelie penguins and sea birds populate the air, albatros, shuas and petrels.
History
The history of Antarctica is a tale of exploration, scientific endeavour and international cooperation against the backdrop of one of the world’s harshest environments.
While indigenous peoples have no historical connection to the continent due to its extreme conditions, the first confirmed sighting of Antarctica is now widely attributed to a Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev in 1820.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, explorers from various nations, including the famous expeditions of Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott, braved the icy seas and treacherous terrain in pursuit of discovery and glory.
The first explorer to set foot on the Antarctic continent is widely credited to be the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Amundsen and his team reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911, beating the ill-fated British Terra Nova Expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott by about a month. Amundsen’s successful expedition marked a historic achievement in polar exploration and solidified his place in history as one of the greatest explorers of all time.
The continent became a focus of scientific research in the 20th century with international treaties designating it as a place for peaceful scientific cooperation and banning military activity. Today, Antarctica stands as a symbol of global collaboration in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of our planet’s most remote and pristine wilderness.
Fact
Antarctica is a continent shrouded in mystery and extremes, but perhaps one of its most intriguing features lies beneath its icy surface. Deep below the Antarctic ice sheet, there exists a subglacial lake known as Lake Vostok, one of the largest subglacial lakes in Antarctica. What makes Lake Vostok particularly fascinating is that it has been isolated from the outside world for millions of years, sealed beneath more than two miles of ice. Despite this isolation, scientists have discovered microbial life thriving in this extreme environment, suggesting that similar isolated ecosystems could exist on other icy moons or planets in our solar system, hinting at the potential for extraterrestrial life.
Moreover, Lake Vostok holds the promise of unlocking valuable insights into Earth’s past climate and evolution. Analysis of ice cores drilled from above the lake has provided a unique window into the continent’s climate history, offering clues about ancient atmospheric conditions and environmental changes. Studying the lake’s water and sediment could unveil even more secrets, potentially including new forms of life adapted to extreme conditions and clues about the geological history of Antarctica itself. Thus, Lake Vostok stands as a testament to the resilience of life and the profound mysteries waiting to be uncovered in the icy depths of our planet.
What we offer:
Here at BlueGreen we offer a handful of carefully picked small boat Antarctic adventures by trusted partners. The trips vary from five to eleven days in duration, starting from either Ushuaia in southern Argentina or Punta Arenas in southern Chile.
We can organise your polar adventure to suit the way you want to experience Antarctica advising on the most suitable option and helping you sift through the options.
Safety First
The companies we work with prioritize safety. All the craft have ice-strengthened hulls making them ideally suited for expedition travel in Antarctica. Weather changes are frequent in the south making no two journeys the same. The Expedition Teams set the voyage route to take advantage of the ever-changing opportunities provided by nature, making every journey a unique experience.
Boat trips - About the boats
Sail through Antarctic waters to the legendary Cape Horn, across Drakes Passage and land at a penguin colony for close up views.
Experience the thrill of a whale sighting aboard a Russian icebreaker pushing far south into the whales’ feeding grounds, seize the opportunity to camp overnight in the twilight or brave a sea kayak.
Gaze upon the unimaginable by joining a boat expedition charting a course across the Antarctic Circle at 66°33’S. Feel the thrill of excitement that the first adventurers to this continent felt as you experience this remote pristine beauty up close and personal.
All the trips we offer are on small cruise ships (maximum capacity 100) these vessels can go where the big ships cannot, taking you to remote destinations. The ships are equipped with sturdy inflatable motorized boats (Zodiacs), offering the opportunity of frequent shore landings and access to small and shallow areas for a more intimate experience. They will take you up close to Antarctica’s breathtaking nature and majestic wildlife.
Travel to the most remote place on earth
- Visit the famous lighthouse at Cape Horn, or for a speedy arrival, fly over the ice from Punta Arenas
- Photographers will relish the long hours of daylight for maximum exposure and to snap that award winning shot
- Witness icebergs the size of tanks and immense translucent glaciers
- Learn about the significance of the science being carried out in Antarctica from on board scientists and naturalists.
- Be entertained by a thousand strong cast of comic penguins
- Camp out on the ice and feel like an Antarctic explorer under the soft glow of an Antarctic twilight
- Paddle out in this icy wilderness in your sea kayak and experience it’s magnitude from the water
- Walk out onto the ice in snow shoes for an altogether different perspective
- For the hardy, brave the icy waters with a Polar Plunge!
- Dodge icebergs on a Zodiac search for whales and penguins