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Photo courtesy of Wikapedia
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Answers to common questions asked ...
Why Lynda Chose this Adventure Vacation
Lynda's travel arrangements were made by Harvey World Travel in Forest Hill, Victoria, Australia. Lynda, and her husband Geoffrey Smith, have to make many plane connections to join the other people going on a tour adventure. There are Boat Tours from Hobart Australia and New Zealand but they are 28 days long so the trip chosen was shorter and less expensive.
AB
Lynda, why do you want to visit a cold place at the bottom of the world?
My Mum and some of my friends have asked me this. My adventure isn't because Antarctica is a cold region or around 1600 miles (2500 kilometers) from my Australian home. Antarctica is calling me to come hear, smell, capture images with my camera and experience some of the most amazingly unique characters and vistas on our planet.
I cannot imagine what I will be feeling as we sail by icebergs as large as aircraft carriers. I will see only the tip of icebergs because 50% to 99 % of their splendor is hidden underwater. Add in hanging out with thousands of penguins, while they carry out their day to day business. A picture of Antarctica's magic is starting to emerge.
Nature is amazing and Antarctica has some of the world's rarest inhabitants and pristine landscapes. Why wouldn't I seize the opportunity to explore the largest, driest, coldest continent at the bottom of the world?
LS
What is the summer season in Antarctica?
The Antarctic summer season is November to March. This time of year daylight lingers for 18 to 20 hours and temperatures are between 32F and 40F but wind chill dependant. Antarctica has 3 summer seasons. I am traveling a smidge late as the penguin chicks will be hatched and apparently the colonies will be really smelly. But February is the best whale watching time so I should see lots of whale tails as they dive deep.
LS
Sounds like warm winter Buffalo weather.
AB
What are the three summer seasons?
November Late Spring early Summer
Lots of ice and snow.
Courtship displays by penguins mating and then nesting.
December-January Mid Summer
Longer days with more daylight up to 22 hours.
The first penguin chicks hatch and seal pups start to appear.
February-March Late Summer
Busy season at the penguin rookeries.
Play time for fur seals.
Best Time for Whale watching.
LS
What is winter like in Antarctica?
During winter pack ice extends for 620 miles around the continent.
It is dark almost 24 hours a day.
Temperatures fall to -30F
LS
What are the health risks?
Hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite, snow blindness, sunburn
I am prepared concerning the sunburn.
LS
How many people visit Antarctica?
Antarctica it not that easy to get to. You hear about it so you tend to think it's not that far away but it is. The current 2007/2008 season now sees around 35,000 tourists visiting. Compared to the 1992/1993 season when only 6,750 visited, this is an incredible 518% increase in tourism.
LS
35,000 kids play hockey in Western New York. What hockey parent would not want to take their child to the world's largest rink with no sports drink vending machines? They would save so much money they could afford a family trip to Antarctica!
AB
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| Iceberg that flipped over as Lynda watched. |
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Warmer currents under water can cause melting underneath an iceberg. It then becomes top heavy and flips over. The iceberg in the photo now shows the bottom as it's top.
AB
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"The summer in Antarctica, until the wind does blow
Is warmer than our winter time, right here in Buffalo!"
AB
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©2008 Last Update March 2008
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