Early risers onboard the National Geographic Endurance witnessed our entrance into the fog-laden boundary signaling the abrupt change in sea surface temperature that characterizes the Antarctic Convergence Zone, the transition into the waters that define the Antarctic continent. When we crossed the so-called polar front and emerged from the clouds, we were met by several species of Southern Ocean seabirds whose erratic flight perfectly matched the nature of the winds that whipped across the surface of every wave crest. Royal and light-mantled sooty albatrosses dipped low into the troughs, as pintado petrels and southern fulmars broke straight through the salt spray, pausing only to skim the surface or shake water from their wings. Winged wanderers continued to surround the vessel as we retreated indoors throughout the day to learn from expedition staff presentations - from photography tips to glaciology facts to a fun collection of Antarctic curiosities - all in preparation for the next several days of exploring. The excitement and anticipation of the past two days at sea culminated in a blast of the ship’s horn and a toast to crossing the Antarctic Circle just after dinner. We can hardly wait to set our eyes (and feet!) on the continent tomorrow.
1/28/2023
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National Geographic Resolution
The Drake Passage and the Beagle Channel
The sun came out by 07:00 this morning and stayed with us all the way into Ushuaia. In the morning, we had two presentations. One covered the South Pole, and the other was on the early Antarctic explorers. After lunch, we had a wonderful display by sei whales in the Beagle Channel. Shortly after, our two divers demonstrated the underwater ROV and the cold-water dive equipment. In the evening, we attended the Captain’s Farewell in the Ice Lounge and auctioned the trip flag. The Beagle Channel was named for the HMS Beagle . The channel is south of the Strait of Magellan, and it is the last cut off for ships rounding South America to avoid the Drake Passage. It was named during the first voyage of the HMS Beagle around 1827. It was on the second voyage of the HMS Beagle that a naturalist named Charles Darwin was brought along. Darwin and the HMS Beagle spent months in the channel. In addition to his observations in the Galapagos, many of Darwin’s observations in this area led to his Theory of Evolution. The HMS Beagle was sent with 22 chronometers to fine tune the latitude of critical points around the world. Captain Robert Fitzroy was not funded by the British Navy to have a naturalist aboard, but he hired Darwin with his own money because he felt it was important. That decision was critical in how we now look at the natural world around us.
