The Drake Passage, 1/8/2023, National Geographic Resolution
Aboard the
National Geographic Resolution
Antarctica
Today we headed back north on our last day at sea before arriving in Ushuaia. We were all happy for a pretty nice sailing through the “Drake Lake,” and we enjoyed the comfort and amenities that NationalGeographic Resolution offers. We had the opportunity to learn even more about this incredible area, “The White Continent.”
During our return trip, we were escorted by acrobatic Cape petrels and big wandering albatrosses with their extremely long wings.
Now is a good time to relax, look back, and let our minds assimilate all the incredible things we have seen and experienced over the past few days. And it’s also time to start thinking: when are we coming back?
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We spent this morning cruising north to our afternoon destination at the Fish Islands and their neighboring islands, the Minnows. Here we dropped our Zodiacs and toured amongst beautiful icebergs, snowcapped peaks, and tidewater glaciers. It was a day filled with presentations in the Ice Lounge. Staff naturalists covered a variety of topics, including, “The Natural History of Antarctica,” iPhone photography, and, “A Brief History of Antarctic Exploration.”
National Geographic Explorer awoke to another bluebird morning on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula. An otherworldly landscape of snow and ice, the majestic mountains of the peninsula are a continuation of the Andes and were joined to Patagonia for most of their geologic history. When the Drake Passage opened up about 30 million years ago, the continent moved into its current position over the South Pole, and the Andean chain broke into two. As the climate cooled, ice sheets started to appear, and the icy continent that we have today began to evolve. Today, glaciers ooze down the steep walls of the peninsula’s dramatic coast, making for incredible scenery. Cruising into Andvord Bay after breakfast, the captain practically parked the ship on the beach at Neko Harbour for our morning activity. On shore, we visited our last gentoo penguin colony and observed two Weddell seals hauled out on the snow and one on a piece of ice. Hiking up the hill, we had an incredible view of the surroundings and Mount Français, the tallest mountain (9,168’) on the peninsula. After lunch, we cruised up the Gerlache Strait and entered Dallmann Bay, where we had wonderful encounters with humpback whales. What an incredible end to an extraordinary trip around the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Early this morning, National Geographic Resolution crossed the Antarctic Circle, marking a wondrous maritime feat. Many awoke early to witness the crossing. National Geographic Resolution continued southward to our morning destination of Detaille Island. While some guests explored by Zodiac, many went ashore to visit a famous hut used by British scientists from 1956-1959. The hut has been preserved since its use in the 1950s, serving as a wonderful time capsule that allows glimpses into what living in a research hut looked like back then. In the afternoon, we enjoyed another sunny bluebird day. Upon encountering a good area of sea ice, National Geographic Resolution navigated into the ice, allowing us to walk on the frozen ocean and take in the icy sights.
