Port Lockroy is a former British base on a postage stamp-sized island off the larger Wiencke island on the West coast of Antarctica. The bay was discovered in 1904 and named after Edouard Lockroy, a French politician helping to fund the French Antarctic Expedition. It has been renovated over the years since 1996, and isContinue reading “Port Lockroy, Antarctica”
Tag Archives: Antarctica
Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
Deception Island is actually the caldera of an active volcano, creating a sheltered harbour, 10 km long and 7 km wide. It belongs to the South Shetland Islands and is administered as part of the Antarctic Treaty. There was a whaling station here until 1931, and in the summer, Argentina and Spain still maintain researchContinue reading “Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica”
Cuverville Island, Antarctica
Cuverville island on the West coast of the Antarctic Peninsula was discovered by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-1899. The leader of that expedition, Adrien de Gerlache, named the island after Jules de Cuverville, vice-admiral of the French Navy. The strait where the island lies is named after Gerlache himself. The bay of the islandContinue reading “Cuverville Island, Antarctica”
Aitcho Islands, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
The curiously named Aitcho Islands get their name from ’H.O.’, i.e. Hydrographic Office of the UK Admiralty who mapped them in 1935. These days the inhabtants are mostly gentoo and chinstrap penguins (below a chinstrap). As this is peak hatching time, many gentoos had chicks peeking out from between their legs, where it is safeContinue reading “Aitcho Islands, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica”
Antarctic Sound and Hope Bay, Antarctica
Antarctic Sound separates the continent from the island of Joinville. The sound is 56 km long and 13 – 22 km wide and has been nicknamed ’Iceberg Alley’ as numerous icebergs drift northwards through it. The rapidly changing weather conditions and the drifting icebergs create a dance of blues and whites that is strangely fascinating.Continue reading “Antarctic Sound and Hope Bay, Antarctica”
Brown Bluff, Antarctica
At the end of the Antarctic Peninsula stands Brown Bluff, a 745m high volcanic mountain. It has been named after its steep slopes and its brown-black stone. The stone is eroded by the constant winds (below). The redeeming feature of the mountain is the cobble and ash beach at its seaside. Elsewhre it is surroundedContinue reading “Brown Bluff, Antarctica”
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