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A Rare Convergence of Possibilities - Crossing the Drake Passage
During an unusually calm crossing of the Drake Passage Andrew - the Expedition Leader - asked the Captain if it was possible to do a zodiac
The Emperor Penguin of the Drake Passage
There are certain moments in life when a series of events combine to create an experience that is both unexpected and unforgettable. These a
The First Women in Antarctica
Though the list of explorers, scientists, and scientific expeditions in Antarctica is as extensive as it is impressive, it has also been ove
Leonard Hussey’s Banjo: brain food
The Endurance had been trapped in pack ice for 10 months when Sir Ernest Shackleton gave the order to abandon ship on 27 October 1915. He al
Roald Amundsen’s polar exploits
Roald Amundsen had been, unlike Scott, dedicated to exploration ever since he was 15 years old reading about Franklin’s Arctic expeditions.
10 Books and Films To Prepare for your Antarctica cruise
Stunning landscapes. Marvellous wildlife. Astounding human survival stories. Here's a list of books and films that contain all of that. If y
Of Treacherous Rocks & Audacious Fin Whales
The morning dawned beautiful and calm, the Plancius weaving her way through the seas ever nearing Antarctic Sound. The waters were fantastic
Ushuaia: The Little-Known History of Antarctica's Gateway
Ushuaia's official birth date is October 12, 1884. On that day, the Argentine Commodore Augusto Lasserre established the sub-division of Ush
Information with regards to the Zika virus
On January 15, 2016, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) upgraded their Zika virus travel health notice to "Alert Level
Iceberg Encounters in Antarctica
When we told friends and family that we were going to Antarctica for Christmas and the New Year there were a couple of instant, if a little
Coming Back from the Brink: The Fur Seals of Antarctica
Once hunted to the brink of extinction, the Antarctic fur seal is one of the most populous and charismatic species of seal found in Antarcti
Abandoned Antarctica: Five Remarkable Stations Left Behind
For centuries, the most extreme scientists, explorers, fishermen, and travellers have called Antarctica home. The continent is peppered with
A special visit to Orcadas Station
During our 19-day cruise on board Ortelius to the Falkland Islands, to South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, we had the opportunity to
The Small but Social Commerson’s Dolphin
Despite the fact that Commerson's dolphins are among the least-known Antarctic cetaceans, these small but social dolphins go by several diff
Antarctica’s Hourglass Dolphin
Hourglass dolphins are very rare, and yet they are not included in the threatened or endangered species list. Why? First, their habitat is t
The First Buildings in Antarctica: Borchgrevink’s Historic Huts
Borchgrevink’s huts at Cape Adare are notable not only for their important role in the discovery of Antarctica, but also because they were t
Everything you need to know about Antarctic icebergs
When one imagines icebergs, the first image that usually comes to mind is that of an immense spiky iceberg, majestically floating in the fre
The first race to the South Pole in 50 years
James Clark Ross’s British Royal Navy expedition of 1839-1843 launched the most successful expedition to Antarctica by pioneering an entry i
(Nearly) Stuck in the Antarctic Ice
We are at the bottom of deep sleep, gently lullabyed throughout the night by the rhythmic swaying of the Ortelius on a glass smooth Ross Sea
The Norse Settlement of Greenland
Erik the red is a very colourful and important figure in the history of the Norse Vikings. The source for his story is found in the Icelandi
Protecting the heritage of Discovery Hut, Hut Point Antarctica
One building that became a testament to scientific endeavour is Discovery hut at Hut Point, on Ross Island. Discovery hut was Robert Falcon