Tay Head, Joinville Island, 2/1/2023, National Geographic Resolution
Aboard the
National Geographic Resolution
Antarctica
We woke to magnificent views of icebergs in the Antarctic Sound. We cruised past Paulet Island with its hundreds of thousands of Adelie penguins to Tay Head where we spent a fantastic morning hiking ashore.
During our hike, we weaved between fur seals, watched snoozy Weddell seals, and were enchanted by the characters that are Adelie penguins.
We spent the afternoon cruising amongst spectacular tabular icebergs, watching snow petrels soar overhead, and being wowed by fin and humpback whales. Another incredible day in Antarctica!
Mairi is a marine scientist and expedition guide from the Highlands of Scotland. She has a passion for nature and being outdoors, whether on or under the water or up a mountain. Mairi’s research has taken her all over the world – from the tropical wa...
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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.
