Cruise
aboard the MV Ushuaia or Plancius to one of the last remaining wildernesses
on our planet today: Antarctica, the fabled White Continent.
Antarctica is an untamed territory of
wild, natural beauty, as well as a land of superlatives: the world's
fifth largest continent, the coldest place on earth, the highest average
altitude, and the lowest humidity. The continent is devoid of a permanent
human population, although what it lacks in the human factor, it more
than makes up for in mammals and marinelife, wildlife and scenery.
Leaving the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia, your
ship will cruise through the scenic Beagle Channel and on through the
ocean towards the infamous Drake Passage, home to a phenomenal variety
of seabirds and a fantastic opportunity for whale spotting. Along the
way we will make landings aboard zodiac rafts and learn about the geology,
history and geography of the area. Antarctica's rich waters teem with
an abundance of wildlife. The South Shetland Islands are a haven for
several varieties of penguin and Antarctic fur seals, cormorants and
petrels, as well as killer and humpback whales. For the brave, there
is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a swim in Antarctica's hot
springs! We sail on through iceberg-strewn waterways, past gleaming
turquoise glaciers and wedding-cake icebergs, when at least we will
catch our first glimpse of this utterly unique land: the rugged grey
and black mountains of the pristine and spectacular Antarctica Peninsula
rising in the distance.
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