Snow and cold was something appreciated by this gentleman after years at the Atigun Pass, the topmost area of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. This gentleman, a retired civil engineer, found himself shivering with so much delight as soon as he heard that his local university's alumni association was brewing up a voyage to Antarctica. For me, this was a superb idea. Despite the fact that Antarctica is the least hospital and the coldest place on Earth, tourists both armchair and real ones aim to venture to it one day.
However, until recently, only a small number of people actually reached this land per year due to the fact that it is not really easy or cheap to come to Antarctica. Heading to the white Continent means getting to Ushuaia, Argentina's southernmost city, then traveling a 1,000 kilometer travel through Drake Passage, known to be home to the worst sea weather on this planet, for two days or more.
Such is the kind of experience that is very profound and lasting. Voyagers have been coming here since the late 1800s after being sighted in 1820. But before the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, there were not any commercial voyages to the region, it was only after this land was established as a realm of peace and science, as well as a natural reserve.
But following the collapse of the Iron Curtain in the 1990s was the expansion of the travel industry. But as scientific programs found no financial assistance, Russian ice rated expedition ships grew suddenly available while tour operators, speedily renovated them for commercial travel as this was a golden opportunity. A seasoned world explorers, visitors have to be presented with something new and breathtaking. But some of the travelers, on the other hand, aspire to be like Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose legendary endurance expedition back in 1914 got written in history as the most spectacular tale of expedition survival.
Antarctica's spectacular beauty has been known to enchant many a photographer, artist and nature lover, plus, apart from filling the landscapes, one can kayak around icebergs, and giant glaciers. Get set to be thrilled once you see penguins, seals and different kinds of whales like minke, killer and humpback. Not only did these short legged birds walk right up to him, curious but unafraid, they also put on a show.
Small inflatable, rubberized boats are what people hop aboard to get to the coast as there weren't any docks and ports. Get your camera ready as you may now kayak against icebergs, stand with penguins and even hike with them. All the while, the expedition team's naturalists stand ready to answer questions about wildlife and marine mammals, glaciology and the region's history.
Throughout the trip, he got bombarded by wildlife and landscape lectures as he reveled for three days at Buenos Aires and in a luxurious cruise liner for five more days. Heading to naturalist guided excursions to penguin rookeries was something that truly made his trip memorable. These short legged and adorable creatures put up a show for him, and it was interesting how they were curious but not fearful at all.
But not all people get to enjoy Antarctic travel as much as the other people. Some environmentalists look down on the growing number of tourists, as these might affect the delicate ecosystem of Antarctica, posing threats to wildlife breeding and reducing populations especially of the rarest of species. The international association of Antarctic tour operators has adopted voluntary standards to minimize the environmental impacts of tourism. As long as the environmental and operational laws are being adhered by all tourists, natural programs as well as corporations, this region shall be pristine and unblemished.
He further states that compounding the problems are many television shows today which condition people to view as entertainment, the animals including the thousands of penguins that call Antarctica home. Animals begin to ease out if they are used to the human presence. And such a disassociation from the natural world has become a huge problem. But this not something readily embraced by the other conservationists. However, he argues that by allowing more people to come to this continent, they will develop sensitivity for it on their own.
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