Antarctica: A “Bucket List” Visit!
Those of us who enjoy travel all have a “bucket list,” and that lists varies depending on our background, life experiences, and interests. But, Antarctica: what can I say? It appears on MANY bucket lists, and it certainly was on mine for years. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure it would ever happen; but, after years fantasizing about this adventure, it came to life in January 2020.
Our Cruise in 2020:
We began our journey in Santiago, Chile and spent the first week sailing the Pacific coast of Chile. This “side trip” was a serendipity we did not anticipate. By itself sailing the coast of Chile was an adventure. I’ve narrated in Alaska for years about glaciers and fjords, so seeing the fjords and glaciers of Chile was a personal added bonus. As a schoolgirl I studied about Cape Horn, but in my wildest dreams, I never imagined the thrill of actually experiencing it.
At last, the cruise of the Chile coast culminated in Ushuaia, Argentina. the farthest tip of S. America. This city has the unique distinction as the furthest South city in the world. Continuing from Ushuaia we sailed south into Antarctic waters and our “bucket list” visit to Antarctica. Please note that you can read about this part of the journey in my blog, The Cool Chile Coast. Antarctica delighted us with many breathtaking sites.
Antarctic Wildlife:
As an Alaskan naturalist, I was interested in what wildlife we would see in Antarctica and its similarity to Alaska. It was no surprise that the whales are the same, and we certainly saw them (see the video above). Visiting S. Africa at Cape Hope we walked among penguins. But, Antarctica has several different varieties and sizes of penguins compared to S. Africa. Other than the terns who fly each year from the Arctic to the Antarctic and a few other birds, the whales were the biggest Antarctic comparison I saw to Alaska.
Much is written about the explorations and expeditions in and to Antarctica. It would be foolish for me to expand on this to any extent. Below, however, I’ve briefly detailed some of Antarctica’s most pertinent history.
As an enthusiastic tourist, though, I HIGHLY recommend a cruise to Antarctica. It will definitely help fill your travel “bucket list.”
Early Antarctic History:
Antarctica is now a frozen wilderness; yet it was once further north and had a tropical or semi-tropical climate. Forests grew and life flourished. Ancient Greeks thought there must be a continent in the southern hemisphere. Even Aristotle argued that since the world is round there must be a landmass in the southern hemisphere to balance the land in the northern hemisphere.
In Jan. 17, 1773, Captain Cook became the first person to cross the Antarctic Circle. Even though Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle three times, he failed to find land. On Jan. 27, 1820. Fabian von Bellingsingshausen from Estonia was the first man to actually see Antarctica.
Early Antarctic Explorers:
Amundsend and Others
In Dec. 1911 Roald Amundsen from Norway reached Antarctica. Later, British explorer, Robert Scott, arrived in Antarctica in Jan. 1911 and he, too, set out for the South Pole. Scott reached the Pole Jan. 17, 1912, only to find his expedition was beaten by Amundsen. Scott’s expedition failed to make it back to base; his last diary entry was March 29, 1912. Sadly, Amundsen’s achievement was overshadowed by the tragic deaths of Scott’s expedition.
Several expeditions ensued, but finally, in 1908 Ernest Shackleton led the now famous British expedition to Antarctica. Shackleton’s first experience with the Antarctic was when he accompanied Robert Scott on an attempt in 1901.
Shackleton’s “Success and Disaster”
As a result of Amundsen’s conquest in 1911, the race to the South Pole ended. Shackleton made preparations for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–1917 and attempted to cross Antarctica from sea to sea, via the pole. However, disaster struck this expedition when its ship, Endurance, was trapped in pack ice and was crushed before the shore parties could land.
The crew escaped by camping on the sea ice until it disintegrated. They then launched lifeboats and ultimately reached S. Georgia Island. This was a stormy ocean voyage of 720 nautical miles and, without any question, Shackleton’s most famous exploit. In 1921, Shackleton returned to Antarctica with yet another expedition. Sadly, he died of a heart attack while his ship was moored in South Georgia. At his wife’s request, he was buried there.
Current Bases in Antarctica
The British first people established a permanent base in Antarctica in 1944 for military reasons. The Australians established a scientific base in 1954. Today many nations maintain bases in Antarctica. In 1958 Edmund Hilary reached the South Pole. He was the first man to reach it since Captain Scott in 1912. Also in 1958, a team led by Vivian Fuchs became the first men to cross Antarctica overland.
Another fantastic article Kathy. Thank you for the Blog and the amazing photos – so cold and yet so beautiful. I heard on the news two days ago that Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, lost since 1915, was found off Antarctica. An expedition that set out in search of the lost ship of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton has found it — 106 years after the vessel sank off Antarctica. I also heard that the ship is in incredibly good condition. Thanks for sharing your amazing adventure travels.