Traveling Antarctica

Mawson’s Australian Antarctic Expedition 100th Anniversary

Haich — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Stamps commemorating Mawson's first Australian Antarctic Expedition

Douglas Mawson Antarctic Explorer.

If you ever take a trip to Antarctica I highly recommend you read the story of Douglas Mawson’s expedition to discover Antarctica – Home of the Blizzard. It is an amazing story of will and survival and the extremes that an adventurer is willing to go to fulfill a dream.

It is 100 years now since Douglas Mawson and his crew started to plan the scientific expedition to the Antarctic coast south of the Australian continent. On December 2nd 1911 Mawson’s expedition left Hobart bound for Macquarie Island and was the first Australian-led Antarctic expedition.

First Radio Communications from Antarctica

Macquarie Island is about half way between Hobart and Antarctica and had been used for exploiting the abundant source of seals and penguins on the island for skins and oil since around 1810. The populations of seals and penguins diminished rapidly due to this lucrative resource.

Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) stopped at Macquarie Island en route to Antarctica to set up a wireless repeater station on the northern end of the island which is now known as Wireless Hill. A hut was built on the Isthmus for a party of five who were to remain on the island.

The repeater station would be the first means of communication to Antarctica. A HF radio system was set up for morse code between Mawson’s base camp in Antarctica and Australia using the repeater station at Macquarie Island to relay the signal.

Douglas Mawson headed a campaign to declare the island a nature reserve, and condemned the royal penguin industry in particular. This was a major step forward toward the preservation of seals and penguins on the island.

Unfortunate Ill Fated Expedition

Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition is unfortunately most famous for the ill fated trek where he lost two members of his party. One fell to his death in a crevasse on the Glacier now named after him, Ninnis Glacier, taking with him six sled dogs and most of the supplies. Mertz the remaining companion died soon after due to Vitamin A poisoning from eating the livers of the remaining sled dogs in order to prevent starvation. The Mertz Glacier is named in his honour.

Mawson barely survived but made it back to the base camp and spent the following winter in the “Home of the Blizzard” with six others from his crew, after their ship the Aurora had set sail only hours before Mawson had been found by the crew that stayed behind to find him. A return by the ship to pick them up after a radio call failed due to bad weather. Mawson returned the fallowing year to Australia a hero.

History Frozen In Time

The amazing tales of survival and will are abundant in those early years of discovering Antarctica. There are still some remnants of those early expeditions, and Mawsons Hut at Cape Denison is one worth visiting. The hut was built in area prone to fierce katabatic winds and was buried in snow and ice for the majority of the time, it is now a heritage listed building of significance and has undergone some extensive efforts to preserve this most amazing moment of history.

Below is some recommended reading, these are books which I read while I spent two years in Antarctica. It never ceased to amaze me what the human body and soul is capable of surviving. Being in Antarctica and experiencing the conditions first hand gives you a real appreciation of what these amazing adventurers and explorers endured.

Introduction To Traveling Antarctica

Antarctic Tour, Cruise and Voyage Guide Pt1

Haich — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:56:40 +0000

Preparing for your Antarctic Cruise, Voyage or Tour

I know when I went to Antarctica I prepared before going a “Must Do List”. This is a reminder list or goal setting list of the thing you want to achieve while on your Antarctic adventure.

Must do lists aren’t for everyone, some tourists/adventurers just like to take it as it comes and not put themselves under any pressure of commitment, however for others it is a sure way to achieve certain milestones and make the very most of a lifetime trip.

It is not always possible to achieve everything on the list, so this will give you a great excuse to go back as soon as you can! It can be great fun looking forward to and planning for your “Must Do List”, and it’s even more fun and satisfying when you achieve and tick off the items on the list. It is also a great feeling to go back home after your amazing Antarctic Tour and go through the list and reminisce about the things you achieved.

So, below is a list of some of the things that I think would be essential items on a “Must Do List” for a cruise or voyage to Antarctica and Sub Antarctica:

Antarctic Cruise Must Do List.

Safety First in Antarctica

These are just some of the things you can do or experience on an Antarctic Cruise, Tour or Voyage, you can certainly make up your own list, however always keep safety in mind, as I am sure the Antarctic Tour Operators always have their passengers safety and well-being as a first priority.

Some Antarctic Tour Operators have their own “Must Do List” for their passengers along with an itinerary for the voyage. Sometimes due to weather and ice conditions it is not always possible to go everywhere and do everything, however the uncertainty is what makes an Antarctic Adventure all the more exciting.

Aurora Australis Southern Lights in Antarctica

Haich — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:09:39 +0000

Aurora Australis - Southern Lights in Sub Antarctica

Antarctic Sky Light Show

If and when you take your cruise or voyage to Antarctica or Sub Antarctica you will most likely come across a spectacular natural sky light show. The Southern Auroras or Aurora Australis are a spectacular exhibit of one of natures wonders. Scientifically speaking there is no mystery in this phenomenon, however to experience them is a mysteriously awesome sight.

Auroras a Natural Phenomenon

Auroras are mainly seen at the Arctic North Pole and Antarctic South Pole (Aurora Borealis – North Pole) and (Aurora Australis – South Pole). The reason for this is that the earth’s magnetic fields are most active and intense at the poles, the lights are a result of the solar particles striking the earth’s magnetic field

Auroras are the only sign of what is happening in the Earth’s upper atmosphere visible to the naked eye from the ground. They occur when particles streaming out from the Sun (solar wind) enter the atmosphere near the poles after being deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field, striking molecules and atoms in the high atmosphere, causing them to glow in different colours like neon tubes.

Disturbances on the Sun, like Solar Flares, can cause storms in the Earth’s magnetic field, intensifying the auroras and make them expand out beyond the polar regions. At times, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere they can be seen quite a distance from the magnetic North Pole, equally but not a usual Auroras can be seen as far north in the southern hemisphere as Tasmania and Chile.

Photographing Auroras in Antarctica

This photo was taken on a clear and calm night in Sub Antarctica (quite a rare event at Macquarie Island), with a full moon, after a couple of days of snow. The Auroras at Macca are quite spectacular ranging in colour from purple to green and everything in between. This one is a relatively mild one, but it’s the best I managed to photograph!

If you are planning a voyage or cruise to Antarctica or Sub Antarctica don’t forget to pack a tripod, to photograph an Aurora you will definitely need a tripod for the long exposure time required to capture the Antarctic lights.

Antarctica

The Sub Antarctic Chinstrap Penguin

Haich — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:50:39 +0000

Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis Antarcticus)

Chinstrap Penguins (Pygoscelis Antarcticus) mainly inhabit islands of the Scotia Arc, concentrating in vast colonies on the coast of the South Orkneys, South Shetlands and South Sandwich Islands. Chinstraps have blue-black backs with white cheeks and underparts. A thin black line – the ‘chinstrap’ crosses the chin and runs back under the eye to join the nape. Chinstrap Penguins grow up to 68cm in height, and weigh around 6kg.

They are mini mountaineers choosing rocky and ice free slopes as high as 100m above sea level.
Chinstraps return to their breeding grounds in late October / early November. The first birds occupy the highest places using beak and sharp claws, sometimes on all fours to heave their way up to seemingly inaccessible sites. Coming down they may toboggan on their belly. Their diet consists of krill, shrimp and fish, for which they swim up to 80km offshore each day.

Chinstrap Penguins normally have a clutch of two eggs is laid from late November to late December. Both parents share the incubation period of 35-38 days. The chicks are fed on regurgitated krill and join the crèche after the first month or so. Fledged in 52-60 days, they go to sea while the adults begin their moult.

This photo of the Chinstrap penguin was taken at Macquarie Island. Chinstraps are not commonly seen on Macquarie Island, however there are the occasional sighting as they may come ashore for a rest or to get their bearings. This little fella was first seen on the Isthmus, it wasn’t long before we were all out there, to admire the visitor, and take a few photo’s. As far as we know the Chinstrap was only on Macca for one day, it was the first and only Chinstrap we saw all year. Chinstrap Penguins are considered the most aggressive of all penguin.

Sources:
Tony Soper – Antarctica a guide to the wildlife.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinstrap_Penguin

Antarctic Cruise Essential Checklist

Haich — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:19:01 +0000

So you’re going to Antarctica on a real adventure cruise, the last thing you would want to do is leave something behind or not be suitably prepared with regards to clothing and equipment.

Antarctica is definitely a place in this world you would definitely want to visit. It is the last unspoilt frontier with amazing views, wildlife and experiences. It is a photographers paradise and a nature lovers haven, however it is one of the most extreme and inhospitable environments on earth, but don’t be put off, this is what makes it a real adventure and if you are suitably prepared it can be the best vacation you ever had.

If you are at the stage of deciding or haven’t yet made up your mind to go on that Antarctic Cruise of a lifetime, then you may want to read this article: Ten Reasons to Travel to Antarctica, then to decide how your going to get to Antarctica and what you are going to see you will want to visit this page: Antarctica Tourism Operators Directory, then once you have everything organised come back to this page for your essential Antarctic Cruise Checklist.

Most cruise operators will have guides on what to expect and what to bring, and they may have backup clothing and equipment for emergencies, but to ensure you have the best for comfort, functionality and preparedness for your Antarctic Cruise here is a fist hand experience checklist of what to take on your Antarctic Adventure.

Clothing in Antarctica.

The best method for dressing in Antarctica is the layering system. Layering gives you the best combination and versatility for all the conditions you may encounter. For more information on Antarctic Clothing and the layering system read these articles:

Antarctic Clothing and Equipment Checklist

Click on the images for more info

Thermal Long Underwear
Polarfleece Pullover or Vest
Windproof / Waterproof outer layer – Jacket
Windproof / Waterproof outer layer – Pants
Dry Wick Hiking Socks
Insulated Snow / Ice Boots
Insulated Snow Gloves
Balaclava or Beanie
Snow Goggles and Sun Glasses
Waterproof Trapper / Trooper Hat
Waterproof Back Pack to carry day gear
Dry Pack belt or Waist Bag for valuables etc.
Camera, Memory Cards, Electronic Storage
Tripod, Batteries and Chargers for Camera etc.

So there you have it, make sure you check with your Antarctic Cruise Operator for any special requirements for their particular voyage or cruise.

Wildlife in Antarctica

Haich — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:56:18 +0000

Antarctic Wildlife Unique

The wildlife in Antarctica is unique. It has adapted to a very hostile climate but like all wildlife it has found its niche on the planet.

Antarctic wildlife consists mainly of a series of groups of species. These species consist of Birds, Penguins, Seals, and Whales. The two most prominent species on the Antarctic continent and the Sub Antarctic Islands are Seals and Birds which includes Penguins.

Penguins Galore

Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless birds. They are by far the most popular wildlife of Antarctica and along with seals make up the bulk of the wildlife in Antarctica. There are quite a few species of penguins in Antarctica, they are highly adapted to life in the water and spend about half their time on land and half in the water. They feed mainly on krill, fish and squid. They return to the same breeding grounds year after year and each species is as diverse in their breeding rituals as they are in habitat.

Seals in Antarctica

Seals are Pinnipeds (from Latin pinna, wing or fin, and ped-, foot) or fin-footed mammals. They are a widely distributed and diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae (the walrus), Otariidae (eared seals, including sea lions and fur seals), and Phocidae (earless seals). Both the eared seals and earless seals are found in Antarctica.

Antarctic Bird Life

Birds not including Penguins also make up a large percentage of the wildlife population in Antarctica. Predominately sea birds make up a large percentage of that. The Sub Antarctic islands have large populations of a variety of sea birds. The bird-life relies mainly on food from the sea however many birds are also scavengers relying on food from sources such as penguin eggs, sick and dying seals, penguins and other wildlife such as rabbits, mice and rats which are found on some Sub Antarctic islands as an introduced species and are considered vermin.

Whales in Antarctica

Whales are found in Antarctic waters but are not limited to Antarctica. Whales are sea mammals and are the largest mammal species on earth. The Blue Whale is the largest of the whale species measuring at up to 30 metres in length and weighing up to180 metric tons. Killer Whales or Orcas (Orcinus orca) is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family and are quite prominent in Antarctic waters, they can be seen off the coast on the continent and Sub Antarctic islands as they feed on seals and penguins as well as fish.

Antarctic Wildlife Images

Below are some selected images of Antarctic wildlife, these do not include all Antarctica wildlife but do represent a collection of some of the most popular wildlife which can be seen and photographed in Antarctica and Sub Antarctica.

If you are planning a trip to Antarctica whether to work or just to visit as a tourist you can expect to come across and have the opportunity to experience this amazing and unique wildlife in Antarctica.

Adelie Penguins taking a stroll on the ice	Antarctic Fur Seals in Sub Antarctica
Snow Petrels in Antarctica	A Chinstrap Penguin and Elephant Seals
Crabeater Seal on ice floe	Juvenile Weddel Seal in Antarctica
King Penguins on Sub Antarctic beach	South Polar Skua flying high

Japanese Whaling Ships in Antarctica

Haich — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 07:42:55 +0000

The Japanese Whaling Factory Ship - Nishin Maru

Japanese having a Whale of a Time

If and when you visit Antarctica you might have the displeasure of coming across the Japanese whaling fleet along the way.

We were on our way back home after spending 12 months on the ice in Antarctica, we were just about to leave Casey station on the Aurora Australis when we got asked to help out the Polar Bird which had been stuck in Prydz Bay just out from Davis station for around 45 days.

It was New Years eve, we had just been celebrating the night away so the majority of us were in a jovial mood, however that soon changed. Shortly after midnight a vessel was sighted on the horizon from the bridge. The Aurora Australis approached the vessel and the Captain made radio contact to see if it needed assistance, it was confirmed that it was a Japanese whaling ship a “chaser” Kyo Maru No.1 and that it did not need any assistance.

Illegal Whaling Operations in Australian Antarctic EEZ

The Captain of the Aurora continued to interrogate the vessel asking what it was doing 38 nm (nautical miles) inside the Australian Antarctic exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nm from the Antarctic coast, their reply was that they were conducting scientific research on whales and that they had a permit to be in these waters.

The Captain of the Aurora replied that he believed that they were conducting illegal whaling operations and should leave the area immediately. The whaling ship then started to move westward toward another vessel on the horizon, a Japanese whaling factory processor ship the Nishin Maru.

The Aurora followed the chaser, Kyo Maru No.1 to within a couple of hundred metres of the factory ship, the Captain of the Aurora again made radio contact with the fleet and asked them to leave the Australian Antarctic EEZ. He also informed them that their position and details had been reported to the Australian authorities, and again asked them to leave the area immediately by sailing north. There was no response from the Japanese fleet, and we had no choice but to continue on our way toward the beset Polar Bird.

Whaling to Feed a Cultural and Economic Hunger

There certainly has been a lot of controversy over the Japanese Whaling program, they claim it is for science however it is pretty obvious that it is to feed a cultural and economic hunger – so to speak! And while they keep up this mindless slaughter of these most awesome creatures the world risks losing some of it’s whale species to extinction by greed and opulence!

Greenpeace has certainly been very active in the saviour of whales and it seems that the Japanese government may now start to back off on their whaling program due to the enormous pressure being applied by Greenpeace and global dislike to whaling practices.

Here are some pics which I took while alongside the Japanese whaling fleet, note the sign on the back of the “Factory Ship” which states quite clearly the Japanese opinion of our Greenpeace warriors!

(WHALES ARE NOT ENDAGERED! GREENPEACE MISLEADING THE PUBLIC !)

The Nishin Maru Japanese Whaling Shiop - Note Sign on Rear of Ship

The Japanese Whaling Fleets "Chaser Ship" the Kyo Maru No. 1

No related posts.

Swimming With the Penguins in Antarctica

Haich — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:10:08 +0000

Swimming with the King Penguins in Sub Antarctica

Get Great Photos of Penguins in Sub Antarctica

Caution – If you are planning a trip to Sub Antarctica and want to swim (or plank) with the penguins, beware of the Killer Whales! – In the water you will look like a yummy Penguin to them!! (See photo at bottom of post!)

On a calm day in Sub Antarctica at Macquarie Island, the east coast is not too rough, and there is a slight South Westerly wind of around 15 to 20 knots, it’s a good time to go boating!

IRB’s or Inflatable Rubber Boats are an essential mode of transport in Antarctica and Sub Antarctica. At Macquarie Island it is the only way to get any quantity of gear or supplies to the huts other than helicopters – but they are only available during re-supplies – weather permitting!

We head off, three boats in all, toward the southern end of the island – Hurd Point. The waters around Hurd Point are notoriously turbulent, particularly off the east and west coast, and on a calm day as we head around to the southern tip the seas slowly rise with a swell now of up to 2 metres in places – and that is on a calm day! The swell is all over the place bobbing us up and down like a cork, the salt water fairly spraying our faces as it breaks over us, it’s a hell of a ride and it gets the blood pumping.

After dropping some supplies off at the hut we head back to base along the east coast. By now the sun is shining and the wind has dropped and it’s a real pleasure soaking up the sun and enjoying the scenery with the salt air in your face – it’s great to be alive!

Swimming or Planking with Penguins on Macquarie Island?

As we approach Lusitania Bay we can see the largest King Penguin rookery on Macquarie Island, which at the time had around 80,000 + pairs of King Penguins. The beach and the water near by is an array of black, white and orange/yellow.

We kill the motors and just float by, King Penguins are very curious by nature and they flock around us in no time, coming incredibly close to the boats. I have my waterproof camera over the side and under the water snapping away tirelessly. Then someone says in jest – “why not jump in the water with them”

Why not! The dry suits we have on are watertight and the buoyancy jackets will easily keep you afloat! Mmmm – Just keep and eye out for the Killer Whales!

That's a funny looking penguin! - Planking in Antarctica!

Antarctica

Haich — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:29:33 +0000

The Power of Nature - A Wind Scour, Ice carved out by the fierce winds in Antarctica

Antarctica – Facts, Figures, Insights

Antarctica is described as the “last great wilderness on earth”. Anyone with a sense of adventure and an active imagination can’t fail to be mesmerised by this enchanting massive largely unspoilt seventh continent.

The South Pole

Antarctica is the continent where the South Pole is located, what is the South Pole?

In reference to the earth, a pole is defined as either end of an axis around which the planet revolves.
The South Pole is referred to the pole in the southern hemisphere.
There are two main types of poles – Geographic and Magnetic.
Geographic poles are fixed locators at latitudes 90deg North (Arctic North Pole) and 90deg South (Antarctic South Pole)
Magnetic poles – move daily in an oval under the influence of the solar winds, it is where the earth’s magnetic field is at right angles to the earth’s surface
Insight – one of my many jobs while working in Antarctica was to measure the strength and movement of the magnetic field on a daily basis. It is quite amazing to see how solar flares and events influence the earth’s magnetic field.

Antarctica – A Huge Continent

The landmass of the Antarctic continent covers around 14 million square kilometres. It is the fifth largest continent in the world. In contrast to the Arctic it is a continent surrounded by ice, where the Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by continents.

Antarctica is considerably larger than Europe and twice the size of Australia. It makes up 9% of the worlds landmass. If the ice melted Antarctica would consist of East Antarctica and archipelago of West Antarctica leading northward to the Antarctic Peninsula. It would then be the smallest continent at about half it’s present size.

Antarctica – A Massive Deep Ice Cap

At it’s deepest point, the dome of the polar ice sheet is 4,800 metres thick (4.8 Kilometres) thickness of ice – that’s huge! The South Pole stands on 2.8 kilometres of ice, the average elevation of Antarctica is 2,160 metres. The highest point on top of the Polar ice cap is 4,000 Metres above sea level.

Insight – While at Casey station we visited Law Dome. This is one of many ice sampling locations in the area. Although there is not a huge amount of precipitation in Antarctica, what does fall in the form of snow in inland Antarctica doesn’t melt, it builds up and compresses into ice. Law dome was chosen as an ice sampling location due to it’s relatively unusual high precipitation rate, the ice builds up at the dome nearly 2 metres a year.

Antarctica – Once a Forest

Around 100 Million years ago Antarctica was a forest and was joined to the other southern hemisphere continents that formed what was known as Gondwanaland. Numerous fossils have been found of Dinosaurs, Confiner Forests, various plant-life and Monotremes including the now living Platypus.

Insight – Imagine the amount of fossil fuel that would be trapped under all that ice! Lets hope we never have to get it out!

Antarctica – The Worlds Coldest Place

The coldest temperature recorded in Antarctica was -89.2 deg C at the Russian Station Vostok. The average inland temperature during winter are between -40 to -70 deg C.

Insight – The coldest temperature we experienced while in Antarctica was -39 deg C at Casey Station. One of the things you have to be careful of at those temperatures is your teeth shattering if you breath in through your mouth!

Antarctica The Coldest, Driest and Windiest Place in the World - and Most Spectacular

Antarctica – The Worlds Driest Place

As mentioned above Antarctica doesn’t get much precipitation, this is largely due to fact that the moisture in the air is frozen or crystallised as it is too cold to be trapped as water vapour. The snowfall on the Polar Plateau is an average of 50 millimetres per year (2 inches). Antarctica ranks with the Sahara desert as the driest desert in the world. However Antarctica retains what moisture it receives as ice. 75% of the worlds fresh water is stored as ice and Antarctica holds around 90% of that!

Insight – Even though it is extremely cold in Antarctica, if it is a still day (no wind) the cold doesn’t conduct to your body very efficiently as the moisture in the air is frozen! I recall standing outside on a sunny -25 deg C day with only long trousers and a t-shirt on for about 20 minutes before I started to feel cold.

Antarctica – The Worlds Windiest Place

Antarctica is the windiest place on earth. A variety of different types of winds blow there, from the inversion winds at the pole, katabatic winds from the plateau to violent blizzards whipped up with incredible speed. The winds carve out incredible landscape features in the ice such as wind scours and sastrugi and they are forever shifting the loose snow from place to place. The strongest winds in Antarctica are on the coast where speeds of up to 300 KM per hour have been recorded, that is twice the speed of a Hurricane.

Insight – Without a doubt, the scariest experience while in Antarctica was getting caught in a Blizzard. Visibility is usually about zero due to the loose snow being picked up and carried by the wind, you lose all sense of direction, the chill factor can give you frostbite on any exposed parts of your body in an instant, the chances of getting hypothermia rise astronomically. I once experienced a Blizzard wind of up to 194 KM per hour, I recall getting thrown around like a rag doll, and once I got my bearings and could see the outline of the building I was heading for, a gust came along and slammed me into the building, I was lucky I did not get knocked out or it could have been fatal!

Antarctica is certainly without doubt a very extreme place, as mentioned above it is “last great wilderness on earth” but it is without little doubt a place to see and experience if you ever get the chance. I have travelled to many places throughout the world but I have never experienced anything close to Antarctica. The isolation and the confrontation of nature at it’s “coldest” rawest form, largely unspoilt and inspiringly awesome. It is out of this world – in this world!

No related posts.

Midwinter Solstice in Antarctica

Haich — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:42:24 +0000

Midwinter Soltice is a Very Special Occasion in Antarctica

Midwinter Madness a Big Celebration in Antarctica

Midwinter or Winter Solstice in Antarctica would have to be the most celebrated event of the year. It is a long standing tradition from the very early expeditions to Antarctica. Mawson, Shackleton, Amundsen and Scott are just a few famous names of early explorers to Antarctica and there are numerous stories of festivities and celebration to mark the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere and Antarctica.

The Winter Solstice or Midwinters day has become such an important day on the Antarctic calender because it marks the shortest day of the year. It falls around the 20th, 21st or 22nd of June depending on the year.

Why is Midwinter Such an Important Day?

Because after Midwinters day in Antarctica the daylight hours start to get longer and it’s a downhill run toward summer, more daylight, warmer days and eventually your trip home. Midwinter and Midsummer soltice have long been a big event in some cultures.

The Antarctic Circle 66 deg 33 min Lattitude South of the Equator

In some parts of the Antarctic Continent – south of the Antarctic Circle, which is 66° 33′ 44″ latitude south of the equator, they experience at least one day; 24hours of complete darkness in winter and one day; 24 hours of complete daylight in summer. The further south you go the more days of complete daylight or darkness, until you get to the geographical South Pole where they experience 6 months of dark and 6 months of daylight.

It is therefore no wonder that the Midwinter Solstice day is such a big event. For expeditioners that work and live in Antarctica over the winter period, the Midwinter Solstice marks the halfway mark of their stay in one of the most inhospitable environments in the world, however it is also one of the most spectacular as well. From that day on the days get noticeably longer and warmer, and your trip home gets closer.

Midwinter Celebrations in Antarctica

Digging Out The Sea Ice For a Midwinter Icy Dip

The celebrations kick of first thing in the morning with a Champagne Breakfast then shortly after a quick dip in a hole in the sea ice (Icy Dip) cut out the day before. It s a long standing tradition to take a dip in the frozen sea and it is a must do item on the bucket list if you are in Antarctica for the celebration.

The traditional "Icy Dip" in the Frozen Souther Ocean

After the dip it’s time to get the blood flowing again and recover, then its a casual but elaborate feast for lunch. Festivities follow the lunch until it is time for the formal Midwinter Dinner. During the first half of the year there is usually preparations for the dinner, one of those is usually a photographic competition to select the images to be used for the Midwinter Menu, which is also a keep sake “souvenir” for the participants. The menu’s are hand made and bound by what ever means are at your disposal. Prior to computers and printers the menus would be patiently crafted in the photographic lab on station.

The station chef goes to enormous lengths for providing the finest cuisine and ambience, usually decorating the dining area with ice carvings and an immaculate set table, lined with the custom made menus at each placing. The winter staff also busily decorate the dining room with an array of global flags and Antarctic paraphernalia.

After an exemplary dinner with numerous toasts and after dinner drinks it’s off for the entertainment of the night. This is where the locals get to show off their talents, with singing, music, plays even shadow puppet shows and poem readings. The shows are organised and rehearsed (in some cases) during the first half of the year in prep for the BIG NIGHT – there is no limit to the talent!

The next day is then a recovery day and with new spirit everyone looks forward to getting more sunlight and the days slowly warming up as we head toward summer and eventually – home!

No related posts.