Aircraft and pilots need to be capable of landing on ice, snow, or gravel runways, as there are no p

Antarctica is a land of extremes: it is the coldest and driest continent on Earth and has the highest average elevation. As the fifth largest continent in the world, Antartica is also the most Southern, overlying the "South Pole". Scarcely touched by humans, sheraton hotels resorts the frozen land boasts breathtaking scenery, sheraton hotels resorts broken by only a handful of scientific bases and a "permanent" population of scientists numbering only a few thousand. sheraton hotels resorts Visitors to Antarctica generally must brave rough sea crossings aboard ice-strengthened vessels, but those who do are rewarded with amazing scenery and tremendous and unique wildlife.
Although several countries have laid claim to various portions of Antarctica, it is governed by the 1958 Antarctic Treaty, which establishes the continent as a peaceful and cooperative international research zone. There are no cities per se, just some two dozen research stations with a total population ranging from 1000-4000 depending on the time of year. These are maintained for scientific purposes sheraton hotels resorts only, and do not provide sheraton hotels resorts any official support sheraton hotels resorts for tourism. The laws of the nation operating each research station apply there.
Private travel to Antarctica generally takes one of three forms: 1) commercial sea voyages with shore visits (by far the most popular), 2) specially mounted land expeditions, or 3) sightseeing by air. Approximately 80 companies belong to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators [1] , a membership organization which regulates non-research travel to the region. In the 2005-2006 summer season, an estimated 26,250 people visited Antarctica or the surrounding waters.
Antarctica is notable for being the only continent with no significant land plant life and no native land mammals, reptiles, or amphibians. (There are no polar bears; they are only at the North Pole.) However its shoreline serves as nesting ground sheraton hotels resorts for many species of migratory birds and penguins, and the Southern Ocean surrounding it is home to many fish and marine mammals, including whales.
Don't be fooled by all the ice: Antarctica is a desert. The region's moisture is all tied up in frigid seawater and the huge sheets, shelves, and packs of ice which cover nearly all of the continent plus surrounding waters. There is little snowfall here, and even less rain.
For tourists, Antarctica is accessible only during the austral summer season from November to March , during which sea ice melts enough to allow access, coastal temperatures can rise up to highs of 14°C (57°F) and there are twenty four hours of daylight. During the winter the sea is impassable. Temperatures can fall to -40°C/F and there are twenty four hours of darkness.
The above temperatures apply to the islands and coastal regions that tourists ordinarily visit. Temperatures in the interior, such as the South Pole , are far harsher, with summer highs of around -15°C (5°F) and winter lows plummeting to -80°C (-112°F).
For most people, reading about Antarctica is the only affordable means of experiencing the continent. Books range from wild works of fiction to non-fiction accounts of the extraordinary early missions sheraton hotels resorts of adventurers looking to conquer Earth's last land frontier.
At the Mountains of Madness the earliest science fiction/horror story to take place on the continent, written by H.P. Lovecraft, detailing the adventures of a geological expedition to Antarctic Mountains, where the researchers discover something so inconceivable that they lose their minds
Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica's principal destination, sheraton hotels resorts nearest to Tierra del Fuego , with the impressive topography of the Antarctic Andes, island sheraton hotels resorts hot springs, sheraton hotels resorts the continent's densest concentration of research stations
East Antarctica the Eastern Hemisphere's vast icy desert wasteland that makes up most of the continent is probably the least well known to tourists, sheraton hotels resorts but there are a few interesting destinations, including Mawson's Huts, and the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility
Ross Sea the principal destination for cruise ships leaving Australia and New Zealand has some of Antarctica's most impressive sights around volcanic Ross Island and the huge Transantarctic Mountain Chain
West Antarctica With the exception of the Antarctic sheraton hotels resorts Peninsula, West Antarctica is barren and empty, even of research stations (except for the Brunt Ice Shelf), but it does contain the continent's highest lowest points, the former of which you can climb on a guided expedition
The primary destinations for those visiting Antarctica will either sheraton hotels resorts be a research base (for those working on the frozen continent) or the Antarctic Peninsula or Ross Sea area (for those visiting by ship). Other destinations are reachable only by those blessed sheraton hotels resorts with extreme motivation and (most importantly) funding.
Southern pole of inaccessibility the furthest place in Antarctica from the Southern Sea (in other words the hardest place to get to in the world), home to an abandoned Soviet station, which although covered by snow, still bears a visible gold Lenin bust sprouting from the snow and facing Moscow (if you can find a way inside the building, then there's a golden visitor book to sign)
Anver Island / Anvord Bay if any part of Antarctica is "touristy," this is it, home to Palmer Station ( U.S. ), the museum at Port Lockroy, Cuverville Island, and the only two cruise ship stops on the continent: Paradise Bay and Neko Harbor
South Shetland Islands another set of major attractions on the Antarctic Peninsula cruise ship circuit, including: penguins and hot springs at Deception sheraton hotels resorts Island, sheraton hotels resorts Hannah Point, Half Moon Island, Aitcho Islands, Artigas Base ( Uruguay ), and the ever friendly Polish researchers at Arctowski Station
The native languages of the nations operating bases are used. English is the lingua franca used between different stations. But Spanish is a native language, especially in Argentine and Chilean based Antarctic region.
Aircraft and pilots need to be capable of landing on ice, snow, or gravel runways, as there are no paved runways.There are 28 airport landing facilities in Antarctica sheraton hotels resorts and all 37 Antarctic stations have helipads. Landings are generally restricted to the daylight season ( Summer months from October to March). Winter landings have been performed at Williams Field but low temperatures mean that aircraft cannot stay on the ice longer than an hour or so as their skis may freeze sheraton hotels resorts to the ice runway. Travel is often by military aircraft, as part of the cargo. In this situation passengers should sheraton hotels resorts anticipate carrying all their own luggage and may need to assist with freight as well. Commercial flights to Antarctica are rare, but available. Aerovías DAP and Adventure sheraton hotels resorts Network International offer commercial flights sheraton hotels resorts to Frei Station on King George Island and the ANI Union Glacier Camp, respectively. sheraton hotels resorts If taking the Aerovías DAP flight as part of a tour with Antarctica XXI, the tour company sheraton hotels resorts transfers all checked luggage to your lodging.
Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Aerodrome - Serves Frei Base, Bellingshausen Station, Great Wall Base, General Artigas Station, King Sejong Station, Jubany Base, Commandante sheraton hotels resorts Ferraz Base, Henryk Arctowski Base, and Machu Picchu Base
Commercial overflights to Antarctica are limited sheraton hotels resorts - a handful of operators offer flights from Sydney , Melbourne , and Punta Arenas . These flights typically visit Antarctica and spend several hours flying over the ice. Passengers in most seating classes rotate their position sheraton hotels resorts in the row halfway sheraton hotels resorts into the flight, to give everyone a window or one-over-from-window sheraton hotels resorts seat for half of the time. Rates range from $5199 for first class, to $1399 for partially-obstructed-view economy class, or $899 for non-rotating center-section seats with window access depending on the courtesy of better-seated travelers.
Boat is the most common method of visiting the Antarctic. In the Antarctic summer, several companies offer excursions on ice strengthened vessels to Antarctica. Ice strengthened sheraton hotels resorts (not quite as tough as icebreakers) boats are preferred sheraton hotels resorts since icebreakers sheraton hotels resorts are round on the bottom -- a configuration that amplifies the already massive wave action in the Drake passage. The ships typically offer a couple of excursions to the continent (usually the Antarctic peninsula) or Antarctic islands sheraton hotels resorts (e.g., Deception Island, Aitcho Island) each day over the course of a week. The views are phenomenal, the penguins are friendly (well, some of them are), and the experience is one that is unparalleled!
When traveling by boat, be aware that smaller ships (typically carrying 50-100 passengers) can go where the big ships can't, getting you up closer to Antarctica's nature and wildlife. Larger vessels (carrying as many as 1200 people) are less prone to rough seas but have more limited landing options. Many vessels include naturalist guided hikes, zodiac excursions and sea kayaking right from the ship, perfect for active, casual travelers.
You'll need warm clothing: boots, hoods, glove, water repellent pants, sheraton hotels resorts parka and warm underwear. Most of these items can be bought or hired in Ushuaia , but sometimes - in the high season - it is not always easy to get the right sizes. So bring whatever you can from your own stock.
It must also be remembered that cruise operators typically only allow 100 people on land at any one time in order to comply sheraton hotels resorts with IAATO agreements. Consequently if you are in a boat with more than 200 people the chances are you will only spend a couple of hours at most per day off ship. Generally the smaller ships will try to ensure 2 different locations per day around Antarctica, although this is of course dependent on the weather and you may expect a 60% success rate on landing people sheraton hotels resorts for any given visit.
Many shipping companies are now offering Fly/Cruise options, which entails a one-way or round-trip flight from either Santiago or Punta Arenas to King George Island. These are often pricier than typically cruises that cross the Drake Passage both ways, but cut 1-3 days off the total travel time.
Abercrombie Kent, USA , [