Posts Tagged ‘antarctica travel’

Antarctic Continental Shelf Rich Source Of Natural Gas

From the Antarctic is where two scientists want to find uranium. For a project that can be detrimental to the cooperation among nations, much controversy is present. In 1961, international scientific research was what the continent of Antarctica was set aside for. The cooperation among nations has been strained as they pursued increasing the interest over resources that are not only guarded by freezing weather but also a perilous snow situation.

Short are the Antarctic summers and so it was decided upon by the scientists and their West German colleagues to go over the snow free valleys via helicopters allowing them a bird’s eye view of the amazing scenery of the land. Such helicopter rides were not as pleasing for the gentlemen. As much as possible, the radioactivity detector needed to be within range from the cliffs.It is recommended that you visit this site for resources on Antarctic Cruises.

Aside from the uranium, valuable resources can be obtained from the continent. It will not be an easy task when it comes to locating such resources but there is little doubt that this will be increasingly practical in a decade or so.

One large Polish fleet is involved in the study of krill harvesting techniques, it is a shrimp like creature that is found in the Weddell Sea and is a cheap protein source. When Soviets were here they found high grade iron ore in a mountain. A research vessel from America found ethane and methane in the Ross Sea in 1973. Other than being possible sources of natural gas, these could also be signs for oil deposits.

About 45 billion barrels of oil and 115 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could be carried by Antarctica’s continental shelf according to the US Geological Survey. Here is a difference of eight times for oil and six times for natural gas when compared to the yearly US consumption. This year, the National Science Foundation is supporting two teams of geologists who are surveying a region called the Dufec Intrusive. This area is similar to one of South Africa’s mineral rich areas, the bush veld, and may contain deposits of chromium and platinum. If you’re looking to learn about Great Antarctic Cruise, visit their site for more details.

Most of the participating nations that were present during the International Geophysical Year celebration agreed to the Antarctic treaty prompted by America. Other than conducting open scientific research and not pursuing any territorial claims, part of the agreement included using the continent for peaceful purposes and preserving its environment and wildlife. Doing this was a matter of American bases being instituted by the National Science Foundation.

Thoroughly discussed was the issue of resource exploitation when it came to the Oslo meeting of treaty nations.Unanimous decisions allow for changes to be made. When it comes to valuable resources, searches from other countries are also serious issues. From the continent’s resources, a multitude of information should be obtained according to the scientists. The majority does agree that the most severe test of international cooperation comes with resource development efforts in the Antarctic.

South To The Vortex

The ship’s navigation table holds two nautical charts. Both charts show the ship has now entered waters that have never been surveyed. Using depth soundings, our captain charts a safe and steady course. He may be a seasoned Antarctic sailor, but he’s never sailed this channel before today.

Oncoming dusk makes it harder to see, then the heavy snow starts. Huge snowflakes stick to the windows, making it harder to see the icebergs that plug the channel. Thankfully, the floating barriers appear clearly on the radar. The monitor shows the ice as huge blobs of orange. One enormous glob dominates the channel ahead on the monitor. It’s only three kilometers distant from us.You need to visit this site to learn about antarctica travel adventures.

The captain quietly issues a command at the one kilometer mark. With quick response, the helmsman alters the course of the ship. Though we can barely make it out at first, the tabular iceberg, unique to the southern ocean, appears like ghostly in the fog and snow.Sporting straight sides that rise rapidly into the air, this berg is over one hundred feet tall. The top is very flat and very wide.

The berg, with its massive size, found me awestruck. It was simply one more of Antarctica’s treasures.We were headed to the dashed line found on the bottom of your globe – the Antarctic Circle – in our polar class cruise vessel. We’ve passed many inaccessible and empty areas of the world to get here. It took an additional 79 years for someone to winter over on Antarctica after it was found in 1820. While attempting to find the southern pole, many adventurers died. Scientists were the next group of people to come to Antarctica. You used to have to be rich to travel to Antarctica. Now, because the price of travel has fallen so much, you can cruise there for about the same amount of money as you could travel in the Caribbean.

The shape of Antarctica is similar to a manta ray with a curved tail. The very tip of South America is 500 miles away from Antarctica. This stretch of seas is called Drakes Passage and is notorious for its turbulent waters.Getting through these waters, which have also been called ‘the slobbering jaws of hell’ is the real price to pay to see Antarctica. We followed the advice of one passenger, who suggested we make sure everything was stowed and that the porthole latches of our cabins were secure before we went to bed. Learn about adventure antarctica tours.

After sailing from Ushuaia, in Argentina, we sailed through the Beagle Channel and reached the open ocean. Rough water bounced us to and fro for two days. We didn’t see any land during that time. Nearly gale-forced winds pounded us the whole time.Passing my fourth deck window, ocean spray shot into the air from waves breaking on the bow. A passenger?s seasickness greatly affected the height of the swells he or she saw. Some reported swells between fifteen and forty feet.

After two days sail from South America, we got to the Southern Ocean.I saw a coastal archipelago first thing that morning. The seas seemed to have been calmed by the land. Wispy clouds shielded high mountain tops. The ridges stuck through the smooth glaciers at sharp angles. Frozen slab ice entered the water. It was rough and bumpy, cracked and dirty. These mountains, which could have been in Everest’s range, looked out of place sticking up out of the water.

Our Antarctic cruise reminded one passenger of the labor of childbirth. Antarctica?s stats show it to be the windiest, highest, driest and coldest continent of all seven found on our planet. Antarctica?s polar plateau gets the same amount of precipitation as Death Valley, but the continent holds 70 percent of all the freshwater we have on earth. This land is not owned by a single person, has had no aboriginal peoples, nor any animals that remain year round on it.

We have to rely upon the weather to plan where to sail or when and where to land on shore in this inclement area. Even though we are warned to be flexible, our first landing comes right on schedule. Our assigned groups met on deck. After the call for my group, I climb into an inflatable boat with nine other people. We travel across a mere quarter mile of water until we run aground. And then, with just one step, I am among the few who can say they’ve stood on the Antarctic Continent.

Antarctic Trips Inspire Tired Travelers

An ever-increasing enterprise in the U.S., is arranging vacations to off the beaten path places, for disenchanted travelers. US citizens have grown tired of visiting the usual locations like Mexico and Monte Carlo. The Caribbean no longer draws those who have cruised there before. They?d like to go somewhere unusual and odd. The trips that are the most off the beaten path are those to Antarctica.

It is easier than ever to get there. Your travel will include a 24 hour airplane ride out of New York, followed by a three day ocean journey leaving from Ushuaia’s little port on South America’s southernmost tip. Because the US Navy has a presence in Antarctica, many tourists feel more safe. Beginning in 1957, the US has held an active base on Antarctica. Several other countries do also. Whether the US Navy is pleased with the great increase in tourism is debated. However, it is a certain fact that knowing the sailors are there in case of emergency calms many tourists? fears. Detailed Antarctic Cruising Tours resources can be found there.

What can travelers do in Antarctica? A great deal of the attraction of Antarctica is the opportunity to take pictures of and study the wildlife of the continent. Seabirds, whales, seals and penguins are among the fascinating creatures you might see on a voyage to Antarctica. There is also some spectacular and unique scenery, including a twelve thousand foot active volcano, whose ice cone spews forth picturesque and photogenic white smoke plumes. This sight alone easily trumps other volcanoes as tourist fare.

It takes a special kind of tourist who’s willing to shell out the $5,000 it takes to reach Antartica by plane and boat.Many who visit are scientists or doctors. However, normal married couples are also known to join in. There have even been a few adventurous grandmothers on some trips. A travel agency spokesperson said there is a huge increase in interest in Antarctica of late. He went on to say that the travel to Antarctica has been so improved that almost anyone could enjoy the splendor now, as opposed to the past, when few explorers could actually experience the continent.

The spokesperson for the USNavy says the only regulations place on tourists is that they need to take safety precautions, be self-reliant, and follow the international rules set for preservation and conservation of Antarctica. Scientists and conservationists are worried about this. Tons of tourists could swarm the continent, littering and harassing the wild life. They could destroy the few historical monuments there. Expert resources on antarctic tours are located on that site.

among these historic places is a the hut at Cape Royds that was the 1907 winter home of one famous explorer and his group which remains just as it was left by them. There are still canned goods in fine shape on the shelves, clothing hanging in the closets and portraits of Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII hanging on the walls. An open edition of a notable European city newspaper can yet be found on the table.

One tourist destination in Antarctica is a hill that gives a magnificent view of the Antarctic Mountain range, which is 900 miles distant but visible with crystal clarity as it looms over the South Pole. Early explorers who reached the south pole were greeted by miles of trackless icy crust. Today, a silver reflective ball tops an eight-foot pole there. The pole has orange and blue stripes like a barber pole.