Posts Tagged ‘antarctica’

The First People To Explore Antarctica

Friday, March 26th, 2010

In 1912, Captain Robert Falcon Scott was making the long trek back from the South Pole, when he and his companions met their doom.Suffering from hypothermia and starvation, Captain Scott and the individuals accompanying him, met their death.Scott showed great courage facing his unfortunate demise, following the extreme disappointment at losing the race to the South Pole, and this increased his popularity, and branded him a national hero.

Only now after researchers have spent years running studies are we able to offer information concerning the brutal Antarctica conditions facing anyone traversing the area.Winter air temperatures could reach minus 90 degrees Celsius. Winds traveled about 67 kilometers per hour.These are the conditions that Scott faced, and without our current knowledge of the dangers lurking on this continent. antarctica cruises

Scott’s letters to his wife convey the extreme isolation that he and other scientists working in the Polar Regions often experienced.Even these days scientists will feel loneliness and isolation regardless of the technology available to them to communicate. Scott’s memories were carried on by his wife and young son.

The letters he wrote to his wife were discovered when his body was found months after he died.Scott died 11 miles away from his supply post.It wasn’t until Scott’s wife was in New Zealand waiting for his return that she was notified of his death.

There is a lot historians can get out of the letters found on Scott’s body. In the first days of his exploration he wrote of feeling healthy and happy.There was little mention of bitter temperatures. Instead, he spoke of how a hot meal allowed the body to recoup.antarctica vacations

The mood of the letters changed, though, as the journey progressed and the food supply started to dwindle.Scott began to focus on the fact that the frigid weather was challenging and unrelenting.The men rationed their food and allowed themselves one hot meal followed by two days of cold meals. They had only a little food to survive during their last 11 miles.

Although Scott was a pioneer in the field of exploration, he had bad luck twice over with this trek. On the race to arrive first at the South Pole, Scott was eclipsed by Norway’s Roald Amundsen.History shows that Amundsen arrived on the 21st day of December, 1911, and Scott made it on the 18th day of January, 1911.

Scott had already become a true hero in his country before making his last journey due to a previous attempt at the South Pole from 1902-1904.Two of his men, Lieutenant Henry Bowers and Dr Edward Wilson, hoped for survival as well as Scott during their trek home. Captain Lawrence Oats and Petty Office Edgar Evans weren’t so lucky.

The expedition packed away supplies when they were only twenty miles from a storage area.They were almost out of food and fuel. Already fearing the worst, Scott’s letter to his wife details the bitter cold of seventy degrees below zero with nothing but a tent for shelter and stating that she may remarry if he should die.

In his parting letters he expressed that he did not regret the expedition that ultimately ended his life.He would rather have been there than doing nothing in the comfort of home.Many British youngsters have learned a lot and have been inspired by the story of Scott’s journey.

It was unfortunate that Captain Robert Scott’s group failed to beat Roald Amundsmen to the South Pole.Captain Robert Falcon Scott perished on March 29th of 1912.In 1913 his journal and letters were published in a book titled Scott’s Last Expedition.

How to Select the Best Antarctica Cruise Ship from the Bunch

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Decisions have to be reached prior to boarding a cruise ship bound for Antarctica. Part of it concerns deciding which cruise line best satisfies your trip requirements. This piece discusses the plus sides when considering which Antarctic cruises ship option suits you best.

First you need to decide whether you will want to travel by large or small ship on your Antarctic cruise. You can plan on between 50 100 passengers on a small ship. Big ships can typically hold about 200 to 3000 individuals. You have to evaluate what works and what does not about a particular Antarctic cruise ship. Antarctic Cruising

Big ships give you many of the same recreations of living and vacationing on land. Treat yourself to swimming or dancing or drop by the casinos or gyms or engage in group pursuits. A doctor is available to see you if you are sick as well as a place to get primped. Antarctica cruises on large vessels however generally lack a more personal touch.

Big vessels rarely cruise and touch the banks. Environmental laws along with passenger numbers are the reasons for this. Hopping from one destination to the next is hard to do aboard a cruise so those who enjoy such activities might be disappointed. Find out if laws governing cruise lines allow you to tour coastlines if you are riding big ships. Cruise lines also have a short timeframe for staying berthed at various areas.

You get to see more on smaller cruise lines since their layovers are more frequent. These ships are moored near shorelines which buys you more time for wildlife and secluded area exploration. Fewer individuals mean fewer issues to see to. antarctic cruise ships

The setting is more intimate aboard small sea vessels. Cruise staff and passengers are also easy to adjust to. Have fun engaging in favorite pastimes like kayaking and mountain climbing or snorkeling. Small ships have a doctor and clinic that are free of charge. There is a charge for seeing a medical professional on a bigger ship.

Staying protected while aboard is a key concern. A small ship frequently ranks high in terms of its ice rating. They are reinforced for the ice so it is easier to avoid damage from icebergs and related obstacles. Find out beforehand if the ship you chose has the ability to address emergency situations. But this is seldom an issue because there are regulations ships have to follow.

You pick up useful info while cruising on a minor vessel. Experts on Antarctica can give you a backgrounder along with other info about the region. You cannot go wrong with a firm whose priority is Antarctica Cruises. Specialty cruise firms know how to deliver an awesome Antarctica trip. Knowing the differences between a large and small vessel will help you decide what is right for you. People of course want their Antarctica cruise to start and end on the right note.


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