Approaching the Weddell Sea
All day we continued on our southwest course towards the Weddell Sea. Usually it is not possible to go straight from South Georgia into the Weddell Sea because the sea ice forms an almost impenetrable barrier, however, this year Captain Skog has determined that the conditions are right and we are headed for this famous area. Overnight we crossed the sixty degree south latitude, which is the geopolitical boundary of the Antarctic, and early this morning, enveloped in a thick blanket of fog, we slipped passed the South Orkney Islands.
It was another day full of information. We got tips on how to share our photos, and were reminded about how to behave while ashore in Antarctica. We learned all about penguins and found out about the research that is carried out by Megan, our “penguin counter.” The weather improved steadily all day and in the afternoon the sun came out as we passed by several tabular icebergs, so named because of their flat tops. These icebergs have broken off ice shelves well to the south of us and were carried here by the clockwise current of the Weddell Gyre. This same current brought Shackleton and his men northward in 1915 while they camped on the sea ice, eventually sending them out into open water.
Just before dinner the digital photographers set up their laptops in the lounge, so they could share their pictures from the Falklands and South Georgia. We were able to mingle and enjoy some amazing photographs. After dinner the sunlight and icebergs would not let us go to bed. The evening light was stunning as the sun set in front of us. We passed through several groups of fin whales and looked for the green flash as the sun disappeared below the horizon. Soon the sky turned orange, then red as we sailed through a huge iceberg field – a truly memorable evening.
All day we continued on our southwest course towards the Weddell Sea. Usually it is not possible to go straight from South Georgia into the Weddell Sea because the sea ice forms an almost impenetrable barrier, however, this year Captain Skog has determined that the conditions are right and we are headed for this famous area. Overnight we crossed the sixty degree south latitude, which is the geopolitical boundary of the Antarctic, and early this morning, enveloped in a thick blanket of fog, we slipped passed the South Orkney Islands.
It was another day full of information. We got tips on how to share our photos, and were reminded about how to behave while ashore in Antarctica. We learned all about penguins and found out about the research that is carried out by Megan, our “penguin counter.” The weather improved steadily all day and in the afternoon the sun came out as we passed by several tabular icebergs, so named because of their flat tops. These icebergs have broken off ice shelves well to the south of us and were carried here by the clockwise current of the Weddell Gyre. This same current brought Shackleton and his men northward in 1915 while they camped on the sea ice, eventually sending them out into open water.
Just before dinner the digital photographers set up their laptops in the lounge, so they could share their pictures from the Falklands and South Georgia. We were able to mingle and enjoy some amazing photographs. After dinner the sunlight and icebergs would not let us go to bed. The evening light was stunning as the sun set in front of us. We passed through several groups of fin whales and looked for the green flash as the sun disappeared below the horizon. Soon the sky turned orange, then red as we sailed through a huge iceberg field – a truly memorable evening.
