Blogs from Antarctica - page 7

Electrical power is needed for everything these days and the demand is rapidly increasing. If you ever visit a place or face problems due to lack of electricity, you can think of portable chargers and generators, the savior. In the U.S and in other countries solar power is gaining high popularity. Due to technological advancements, solar plants can be used at homes and on the go. Now, there are various types and models of solar generators available in the market. What are solar generators? Portable Solar generators arrest the energy from the sun with the help of solar panels, there is a battery bank to store the energy. All the energy is released via an inverter and used for normal AC power. This is how a solar generator functions. It’s a solid electronic box that mainly ... read more

“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in the water… Its substance reaches everywhere; it touches the past, and prepares the future.” Lorne Eisley There was a partial eclipse of the sun visible from the outer decks. Although the event was nowhere near as dramatic as a total solar eclipse, it was still quite the spectacle as half the sun vanished behind our lonely moon. A hundred folk came outside to brave the winds of the wild southern seas to witness this Antarctic eclipse. After a few moments it was over, the sun returned to its normal splendour and shone unimpeded until it set. Most folk went back inside to the comforts of a warm ship, but some did not. Many guests stand out on the decks for hours every day searching for ... read more

From the South Shetland Islands, the ship has sailed 100 miles further south and we awake to find ourselves in Mikkelsen Harbour surrounded by glaciers. At last we feel we are in Antarctica proper. It is lovely to be the only ship in sight and we feel the Continent is ours. We once more get into the Zodiacs and go over to a small island on which there are plenty of Gentoo penguins and a few fur seals but also a Weddell seal. These are large and pale blue with spots. He is sleepy but a few of the fur seals are more active and we are told to back off as they wake up and don’t like all these people around them. There are lots of whale bones left over from the now defunct whaling ... read more

Ship is anchored by Barrientos- Aitcho islands. (Originally Hydrographic Office hence HO, then Aitcho). Temperature about 2 degrees but wind chill making it below freezing. Bright early with cloud later starting to drizzle. All geared up with thermal leggings, padded trousers covered by waterproof trousers over heavy boots. Jumper, fleece and huge red jacket, hats, gloves etc. All our gear has been checked and hoovered the day before to make sure we are not introducing any seeds onto the Continent. 6 to 8 people on the Zodiac, which moves fast to the shore, swing legs over into the water – only ankle deep and wade ashore. Large numbers of Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins which are moulting. The babies are now about 4 months old and losing their fluffy feathers. The adults have to moult all their ... read more

When one thinks of the continent of Antarctica, many things come to mind. Imposing icebergs, cooooold cold temperatures, brave explorers, comical penguins, and perhaps even spouting whales. And yes, all of these things correctly represent this beautiful place. But for me, at the end of a 14 day adventure to the true “land down under”, I am left with awe and appreciation for the pristine nature that permeates every experience. Visitors to Antarctica are required to disinfect all equipment and clothing prior to stepping foot on the continent. Of course, nothing is to be removed from or left on the continent. Even deep footprints need to be “filled in” to avoid becoming a death trap for the wobbly little kneeless penguin. This is perhaps the last of the 7 continents to have avoided the corruption of ... read more