Visiting Antarctica

For a three-day period January 18 – 20 2004 WA7AJ and his XYL Janet sailed through Antarctic Peninsula on the MS Amsterdam.   Even though it is summer in that part of the world, navigation can be disrupted by ice and meteorological conditions.   While traveling they saw all kinds of wildlife: birds, penguins, seals and whales along with some of the world’s most impressive scenery.   The Antarctic is the fifth largest continent.   It’s larger than Australia, and the subcontinent of Europe and slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US.   

Although somewhat difficult to find due to it’s setting in a cove with a white ice/glacier background the ship passed within a mile or so of the United State's research outpost "Palmer Station".   The Station is a base of operation to follow the Antarctic wildlife.   As a result, most of the activity occurs during the summer months (October through March).   During the summer there are about 45 people living at the station while during the winter there are as few as 16 people.