Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas! Snow was falling lightly as we navigated through the Lemaire Channel, on our way to Pleneau Bay, for the morning activity of Zodiac cruising through the iceberg graveyard. There were plenty of spectators to watch as our boats explored the area; penguins, crabeater seals and assortment of other birds, watched as we cruised the bay! Of course, the large icebergs that float into the bay were all around us, complete with huge icicles hanging off their edges! During lunch National Geographic Endurance cruised back north through the Lemaire toward Paradise Bay for our afternoon landing and hike at Brown Station. It was a fabulous way to spend Christmas!
2/28/2025
Read
National Geographic Resolution
Northbound Drake Passage, Cape Horn, and the Beagle Channel
This morning, we had a later start than usual after a late night enjoying the crew show. Our galley team gifted us with a fulfilling brunch. We then had a brilliant forum about climate change with the participation of our panel of experts onboard. Afterward, our expedition leader called us to the bow to see Cape Horn, which was only a few miles ahead. The good weather allowed us to have a smooth and fast crossing, allowing extra time to swing by Cape Horn, the most southern tip of the Americas. Over the PA system, Steven provided a very interesting description of the historical importance of this area, then Pablo read a beautiful poem, a memorial to the seaman lost at sea. We could see the monument in the distance, two metal sheets that depict an albatross in flight. During the afternoon, we enjoyed Madalena’s presentation about Women in Antarctica. This was an incredible voyage through the struggles and delays of allowing women to participate in science and logistics in Antarctica. We entered the Beagle Channel around 17:00 and we encountered black-browed albatrosses, cormorants, dolphins, and whales. On our final approach to the beautiful city of Ushuaia, we passed by Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and some of the seals that live in the Bridges Islands Archipelago.
