Seventy thousand pairs of penguins, a nation of thigh-high birds, impeccably attired in feather tuxedos, strut and slide busily about the slippery surface of their rocky, mud-covered mile-square rookery.

Protecting their chicks from the threat of a skua or seal, they preen as they dismiss any uninvited neighbor away from their pebble lined nests. Fluffy, down-covered chicks clamoring about, their beaks thrusting into the mothers’ mouth for fish that’s undigested. antarctica tours information is only a click away.

Penguins work hard to feed their young. When one parent returns from the ocean with food, a ritual of pecks and bows ensues before the mate heads off for their turn at sea.

Although people think they are, penguins aren’t that cute. They’re pushy and pugnacious, noisy and foul-smelling. Even so, they draw huge numbers of visitors to the Antarctic who wish to stand amongst them. The vast frozen landscape of the Antarctic really is like the edge of the world.

Penguins aren’t Antarctica’s only attraction. There are seals, albatross, dolphins, whales, and icebergs and an astonishingly beautiful landscape of glaciers with spires as tall as those found on European cathedrals and icebergs resembling dragons and mythical beings. If you’re looking to learn about cruise to antarctica, visit their site for more details.

Not too many people have been there before and this is what makes a trip to this place most exciting. 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. Though a bit on the costlier side, this trip is extremely fascinating. Ushuaia in Argentina or Punta Arenas in Chile, Cape Town in South Africa, or Christchurch in New Zealand are the four alternative ports which travelers from the U.S. must reach by a 20-hour flight These ports present a choice for people to get on to ice-rated expedition ships for their journey to Antarctica. As of now, the only way to reach The Big Ice is by undertaking this voyage through rough seas lasting several days.

Although the visible part of Antarctica must be the size of the U.S. and Mexico, if we add the area of the ice shelves around it, it is about thrice the size. A two miles thick slab of ice, this continent exerts a huge amount of pressure on the Earth?s surface.

Between February 10 and 18, with nine vessels plying, operators are offering a choice of itineraries. A single ship that carries 400 passengers is the lone exception while all the others range in capacity from 75 to 200 passengers. On these voyages, instead of casinos, fitness centers and swimming pools, there are lectures and informative slide shows explaining Antarctica?s natural beauty.

In zodiac rafts, passengers are taken to witness countless penguins and seals nesting and scientists at work uncovering the mysterious land called Antarctica.

Maintenance of the research stations is looked after by the U.S., Argentina, Chile, China, Russia and a few other parties who are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty. Through the Antarctic Treaty, countries agreed to keep Antarctica free of borders, commercial and nuclear activity and to preserve it as an environmentally clean research facility. Many research stations encourage visitors to come over and see their facilities first hand while others see this as an avoidable activity.

Tourists are free to wander all over Argentina?s Esperanza station at Hope Bay comprising a research centre, recreational area, Penguins, children, the scientists, military personnel and their dogs are all friendly with one another.

In as remote a place as King George?s Island in Antarctica, there is Chile’s Teniente Marsh station which is the biggest of nine bases and has a post office, a restaurant and a provisions shop. In the vicinity, is the Great Wall Station, run by its Chinese staff, where you can buy T-shirts, stuffed penguins, medals, souvenirs and other curios. Anvers Island poses a unique problem in the sense that the United States’ Palmer Station allows only certain pre-selected ships to stop by at specific times. Residential areas and laboratories are out of bounds for tourists.

Posted on July 8th, 2010 by Football
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