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South Shetland Islands Travel Blogs

Background: Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961.



Links: South Shetland Islands Travel Blogs (3) | South Shetland Islands Travel Photos | Map of South Shetland Islands | Antarctica Travel Forum | Antarctica Facts | Map of Antarctica

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A 21st Century Explorer
A 21st Century Explorer
Antarctica watch out...look who is coming! Sheena makes use of her new Christmas present!
After two days of excitement building up in Ushuaia (The Southern most town in the world) we finally made our way to the port to meet up with the ship - a Russian icebreaker called the Professor Molchanov. Sailing through the Beagle Channel to meet the open ocean and take on the legendary Drake Passage. The mood on the ship was full of anticipation as we were shown to our cabin by the Russian crew before going through the emergency drills....Sheena and I instantly made a name for ourselves by being the only ones to turn up to the muster point [View Full Entry]

Travel Trouble - Ben | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1294 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 19 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: January 11th 2008 | 475 Views | [diary=234671]

Albatrosses
Watch Out!
Our First Taste of Wildlife

Overnight we sailed away from the Antarctic peninsula so we wake feeling a little sad. Kate gets up for early to watch sunrise over a huge tabular glacier. I´m slightly more lazy and get up at 7.30am! In the morning we have a landing at Half Moon Island back on the South Shetlands. We land on a beach and walk along the shore and over some rocks to the tip of the island. There are lots of Chinstraps here and only a few Gentoo´s. Kate is still looking for the perfect penguin shot so we spend some time watching the penguins [View Full Entry]

windiburrow - Kate & Andrea | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1640 Words | 7 Comment(s) | 18 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 15th 2007 | 469 Views | [diary=140017]

Views over the South Shetlands
A Fur Seal
Trying to find the perfect penguin shot

"Antarctica is a separate world. One can feel its presence in the approaches, sailing south from more temperate climes. Standing on deck, one may follow the reeling albatross, feel the drop in temperature, the bite of the wind and the motion of the waves. Yet it is the presence of ice, from the first occasional fragments, escalating in shape, form and frequency, and finally dominating all else, that brings assurance of arrival in Antarctica" Mark Jones, Wild Ice. We wake up to rain today, typical! We can´t even see down the Beagle Channel - all the mountains are covered in mist. [View Full Entry]

windiburrow - Kate & Andrea | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
3133 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 28 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: September 15th 2007 | 535 Views | [diary=137110]

All Aboard
Huge icebergs at sea as we approach the south shetland islands
Claire & Andrea on our first Zodiac ride