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Activities and Press Review
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TIERRA DEL FUEGO, ARGENTINA |
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The Antarctic tourist season begins in November and ends in mid March.
During these summer months several vessels, mainly cruise ships, offer a
trip to the "White Continent". After departing from the port of Ushuaia,
the ships head south through the famous "Drake Passage" towards the
northwestern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula situated about 1.000 km off
Tierra del Fuego.
Destinations may include the Antarctic Peninsula, Sub Antarctic islands
such as the "South Georgia", "South Sandwich" or "South Orkney Islands"
and even a semi-circumnavigation route ending in another continent like
New Zealand. The ships used for this kind of journeys are icebreakers.
Only a few are also helicopter-carriers.
During the cruise, a wide range of activities is organized for the
passengers. While crossing the "Drake Passage", environmentalists and
scientists hold lectures about various environmental issues and the
sites to be visited. Once in the Antarctic and according to weather
conditions, passengers have the opportunity to disembark, usually by
zodiac, and take part in short excursions that normally last about half
a day.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the most peculiar geographical "accident" of
the continent. Fiords, straits and channels, among which the “De
Gerlache Strait” is well known for its stunning beauty, interrupt its
western coast. The South Shetland Islands are located in front of the
northwestern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula and are separated from the
main landmass by the "Bransfield Strait". In summer, ice-free areas
provide shelter to many Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguin colonies as
well as to elephant and fur seals. "25 de Mayo" or "King George Island"
is the largest of the South Shetland Islands and houses a number of
scientific stations of different nations managed under the Antarctic
Treaty system. "Deception Island", an active volcano, allows to observe
the consequences of volcanic activity that have influenced the shape of
the Antarctic landscape. "Paradise Bay" is well known for its beautiful
scenery and its pure seawaters, where the abundance of nourishment
attracts many whales. |
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