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| The Palmer Archipelago line the north-west coast
of the Antarctic Peninsula. Several days can be spent navigating around
the beautiful snow-covered islands, and landings can be made on many
of the islands. History abounds in this area, and many countries have
bases on these islands. |
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All is revealed as the clouds blow away
Brabant Island
Brabant Island lies forms the northern edge of Dallmann Bay and
the Palmer Archipelago. Dallmab Bay is frequently the exit point
for cruises heading back to Ushuaia and a veritable paradise for
whale watchers.
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Dusky pink
Weincke Island
Weincke Island lies just east of Anvers Island, the largest island
in the Palmer Archipelago. Weincke Island forms the eastern side
to the maze-like Neumayer
Channel.
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Sun on cloud
Cuverville Island from Gerlache Strait
Explorer and naval lieutenant, Adrian de Gerlache, names Cuverville
Island after a vice admiral in the French navy who had helped provision
his expedition in 1897. Steep cliffs rise up out of the water, culminating
in a dome 252m high. Cuverville Island lies at the northern end
of the Errera Channel. Humpback and Minke whales are often seen
in the Errera Channel.
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One sunny day
Cuverville Island
A large rocky beach with a Gentoo Penguin colony occupied the northern
end of Cuverville Island and is a popular landing site for visiting
tourists.
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Low lying snow islands
Wauwermans Islands
Upon exiting the Lemaire Channel to the north, the low-lying, snow-covered
Wauwermans Islands dot the western horizon. Relicts of broken sea
ice are often visible on this area, and Crabeater and Weddell seals
often rest on the floes.
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More snow than island?!
Argentine Islands
The Argentine Islands lie south of the Lemaire Channel and are
often encased in sea ice. French explorer, Jean-Baptiste-Etienne-August
Charcot, named the islands to thank the Argentinean government for
their assistance with his expedition in 1903-1905. The main reason
to go to the Argentine Islands is to visit the Ukrainian station,
Academician Vernadsky This former British meteorological base was
sold to the Ukrainians for one pound and contains the longest record
of precipitation in the Antarctic Peninsula. The Ukrainians themselves
are a very welcoming group of people. In the 2002 summer, the sea
ice didn't melt sufficiently to let any but the icebreaker Kapitan
Dranitsyn through - and we were warmly welcomed!
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>> more photographs
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