Antarctica - journey to the end of the world
We’ve all heard the superlatives - the seventh continent, the final frontier. The world’s southernmost, highest, driest, windiest, coldest and iciest continent. An inhospitable place with pristine landscapes and extraordinary wildlife.
By far, the thing that stands out about Antarctica is its isolation. Isolation from rest of the world. Isolation from human interference. Isolation that is hard to find elsewhere on Earth. Seemingly, life here continues on as it had for millennias in the past. And yet, the effects of climate change is only all too apparent - rapidly melting ice, warming temperatures and changes in animal behavior. In some ways, the continent serves as a barometer for our future. It is a place that holds significant importance for the rest of our planet.
A place for which photographs and words cannot do justice. A place which must be preserved for posterity.
Crossing the Drake passage. Convergence of oceans and currents make this some of the roughest waters in the world, and to endure the journey across on a ship is still considered the proper rite of passage into Antarctica.
Southern Giant Petrel. From the tip of cape horn, the crossing may take more than two whole days. There is usually a variety of ocean going avian life to keep company.
Wandering Albatross have the largest wingspan of any living bird, with fully mature adults reaching upto 11 feet. At the Antarctic convergence, the ocean and air temperatures make a noticeble drop.
An Antarctic sunrise. The South Shetland Islands are the first series of landmass as we approach the continent.
Some of the islands were used extensively for Whaling and Sealing in the past. Today, wildlife is returning to stake its claim.
Antarctic fur seals play fight among remanants from a bygone era.
A Gentoo pengiun makes an apearance on a pebbled beach. These islands also support large penguin colonies.
Southern Elephant seals. Although they primarily breed in South Georgia and Falklands, some do travel here to rest and molt.
Brown Skuas are aggressive birds, and often prey on vulnerable pengiuns. Another species found here, the South Polar Skua, is sometimes referred to as the most southernly bird in the world, known to fly over the south pole.
Leaving the Shetlands behind and crossing over the Bransfield strait - continental Antarctic pennisula. Truly a place of unimaginable beauty.
The scale and magnificence of the landscape is hard to fathom. The antarctic ice cover holds more than 60% of the worlds fresh water content.
A Gentoo penguin colony with a view. Penguins need exposed rocks and stones to build their nest, and since some higher ground gets snow free earlier due to blowing wind, such places are occupied first to get a head start.
Penguins make the trip up and down from the colonies through what are called ‘Penguin Highways’ - pathways created in the snow by these little birds over the season, which may be a foot or two deep.
Weddell seals are true antarctic seals, and stay here throughout the year. In the winter, when the sea freezes over, they make and maintain breathing holes in the ice.
Leopard seals are one of Antarctica’s top predators. Inquisitive and fearless, they are known to interact with humans.
Southern Humpback whales congregate to feed on the krill-rich Antarctic waters during summer months, before migrating north for the winter. The markings on the body and fluke can help identify individual whales.
Antarctic Tern flies over the icy environs. Unlike its Arctic cousins, Antarctic terns stay in the southern hemisphere and do not undertake the long migration north.
A pair of Chinstrap penguins resting on a ice float. One of them might have survived a predation attempt from Orcas or Seals.
On thin ice. As the planet warms, the effects of climate change have an oversized impact on Antarctica and its inhabitants.