The Drake Passage
There are few bodies of water with as fearsome a reputation as the Drake Passage. Because Antarctica is such an isolated place, an adventurous traveler has only two modes of getting there. Be it by sea or air, to set foot on the white continent, you must first cross the Southern Ocean. Spanning the distance between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, the Drake Passage is the narrowest part of the Southern Ocean and can occasionally live up to its violent reputation. Just the thought of the Furious 50s and Screaming 60s evokes Victory at Sea imagery. Yet most tempests occur outside the Antarctic tourism season making for a relatively uneventful summer. With all the emotional build-up many travelers face upon arriving in Ushuaia, more often than not the passage to Antarctica is totally benign, especially aboard National Geographic Explorer with its sophisticated dynamic stabilizer fins. Our ride has been smooth and fast and our day spent learning the ins and outs of our digital camera systems and about seabird ecology. With jetlag slowly releasing its grip and the sight of wandering albatrosses off the back deck, any travel woes have been released and replaced by the excitement of our adventure to come. Hopefully our first impression of the Drake will be upheld on our way back north.
