The arrangement of unusual vacation getaways has become a booming business in travel jaded America. For a growing proportion of travelers, the usual trips south of the border or to Europe are no longer attractive. A majority of well-seasoned vacationers have taken too many cruises of the Caribbean. They are tired of the usual, safe spots and want to see something unusual. And what would be more exotic, and give you more exiting stories to tell family and friends, than a unique, memorable excursion to Antarctica?

Traveling to Antarctica is easier today than it has ever been. Sailing for three days, you?ll arrive in Antarctica. You?ll take a twenty-four hour flight from New York to Ushuaia to meet the boat. Since united States Naval Forces maintain a presence in Antarctica it’s a fairly safe journey. The US has had a base in Antarctica since 1957, as have several other countries. Though the US Navy may view the rush of tourists with some apprehension, they are certainly a peace-giving site in case of calamity. Detailed Antarctic Cruising Tours resources can be found there.

What exciting activities does Antartica offer tourists looking for a good time?A great deal of the attraction of Antarctica is the opportunity to take pictures of and study the wildlife of the continent. Seabirds, whales, seals and penguins are among the fascinating creatures you might see on a voyage to Antarctica. Huge ash clouds can be seen spewing out of the top of a 12,000-foot high, icy, volcanic caldera.Seeing this volcano is far better than seeing any other volcano on the planet.

Who can we expect will select a trip like this, which may include a price tag for air and sea fares, that reaches $5,000? Many of Antarctica’s tourists are doctors and scientists. Married couples from every walk of life visit. Even Grandmothers take the trip. According to a spokesperson for a travel agency, there is a large increase in interest in Antarctica. He comments that long gone are the days when only a handful of risk-taking adventurers got to experience the natural wonders of this frozen land, as viewing the majestic beauty of Antarctica, is now an experience within practically anyone’s grasp.

A representative of the United StatesNavy is quoted as saying that the only restriction placed on tourists wishing to visit Antarctica is that they can meet certain safety standards, can take care of themselves and that they agree to follow the conservation and preservation agreements that have been put in place for the well-being of the Antarctic continent. Conservationist and scientists are worried by this. They can all too easily foresee Antarctica as tourist trap, with troops of unruly “Ugly American” tourists running roughshod over the terrain, terrifying the indigenous wildlife, littering everywhere and even leaving graffiti on the few monuments of historical interest that exist in Antarctica. Expert resources on antarctica vacations are located on that site.

There is a hut at Cape Royds which housed a famous expedition. It appears exactly as they left it in 1907, complete with canned food on the shelves and clothes in the closet. A newspaper, printed in a major European city, still sits on the table.

Even though they are over 900 miles away from the small hill, tourists still climb it get better photos of the Antarctic Mountains. They house the South Pole. The first explorers and other pioneers were met with flat, crusty ice when they reached the pole. Today an eight-foot tall, blue and orange striped pole will greet you. There?s a large silver reflective ball on the top of it.

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Visiting almost every clime on earth, this ninety-one year old traveler has now seen Antarctica. She was able to witness the land with her very own eyes; Antarctica stretched out before her. This third visit to the continent brought about her first real ability to see Antarctica.She may not have touched the actual land, but she did fly over it.

Flying over fjords, glaciers and through mountain passes, the lucky traveler savored Antarctica for four hours. The plane even descended to only 300 feet above the ground.One mountain they saw was completely covered in fog. The flight had perfect weather; it was clear and the sun was shining. The airs were very cold, sub-freezing, even though the March flight took place during the Antarctic Summer. One scientist, a naturalist who researched on the continent was the tour guide and lecturer on board.You’ll get further resources on Cruises to Antarctica by visiting there.

She really wanted to see penguins, as she?s been interested in birds her entire life. Though she didn?t see any on the flight, her daughter was able to see a colony of penguins in the distance. Near the coast of Argentina lies the Falkland Islands. They traveled via cruise ship to this point. She took a boat to the East Falkland Islands, where she was able to see hundreds of Magellan penguins on one beach. These are the tallest penguins on earth.

The cruise set sail from South America, to which the travelers had spent sixteen hours in the air from the United States. Passengers could opt to swim in the ship?s pool, in addition to traveling to many ports of call. Without regard to the near-freezing air temperatures, our ninety-one year-old tourist jumped in and earned a certificate for doing so.

When the cruise ship got to Chile, passengers traveled via bus to tour Santiago before they flew to Rio.Perfect weather accompanied the three week cruise.Because of the crystal clear night sky, passengers were able to see the Southern Cross. This is the smallest of all the constellations. You can get the best great antarctic cruise information by visiting this website.

She?d only seen one large city and cruised the major river system on her previous trip to South America. Seeing the loss of bird habitat in the area around the river is of great concern to our traveler. She has even been on Safari in Africa. Antarctica was the last continent she needed to visit because she?d already been to. She completed that collection with her recent trip to Antarctica.

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If you have found yourself bored with all the usual vacation choices such as Rome, the Bahamas, Paris, Canada, Mexico, Maldives, or wherever, consider the perfect vacation for new sights and excitement: Antarctica! Surprisingly, quite a great number of travelers have been taking their vacations down under to this dark and frosty continent for the past several years. You may remember learning about Antarctica long ago, when you were in grade school. Its probably not crossed your mind much since then.

Tourists can fly from New York to Buenos Aires or the city of Ushuaia. This is in Teirra del Fuego, Argentina and is the most southern city on the planet.After a couple days of sightseeing and orientation the tourists are able to board an Argentine Navy transport that will have an ice breaker and tugboat leading them, then the transport is sailing out across Drake Passage for some amazing adventures. The 600 miles between South America to Antarctica are some of the roughest waters in the world. This is known as the Drake Passage. If you want more comprehensive info on Antarctica travel adventures that site will help you.

In early times, if you’d survived the Drake Passage, you could put one foot on the table after dinner. For the especially courageous who traveled even farther south, and traversed the Antarctic Circle, permission was given for him to stand with both feet atop the table. Its a little-known fact that, even today, this tradition still continues.

Once you make it to Antarctica you don’t have to limit your experience to feeding a penguin or carving your initials into an iceberg. Tours will also make interesting stops at several U.S. and Argentine scientific stations that are set up to survey marine life, glacial biology, meteorology and earth movements. Needless to say, visitors find both the scientists and crews that run these stations to be very knowledgeable and quite hospitable people.

You’ll have the chance to help with a scientific exploration of your choosing. While studying the Antarctic water, tourists may see that it holds more organic matter than water from anywhere else in the world. Sleeping is done on the ship, and then travelers are taken via boat to their various excursions. Wintertime in the USis at the same time as summer in Antarctica. Though the Antarctic summer temperatures can reach a high of thirty degrees above zero, it is still very cold because of the polar winds. Despite the cold temperatures, tourists will find that they stay warm in the gear that is provided for them; including long pants, mittens and parkas. Go to this site for further information on Antarctic travel.

Included in the tour are a couple “get acquainted” gatherings with penguins as well as sea leopards and even elephant seals…who live up to their name by weighing in at around 2.5 tons each. There’s even a whale graveyard to captivate your imagination. Tour guides strongly urge tourists not to bring the whale vertebrae back as trip memorabilia because of stiff overweight charges on return flights.

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In this mud-covered rookery that measures a mere square mile, seventy thousand pairs of penguins make their homes. They stand thigh-high and strut about in their tuxedo-looking feathers.

Obsessed with caring for their feathers, the penguins also care very attentively to their nests made of pebbles. They must defend their chicks from seals and skuas, and they must protect their area from encroaching neighbors.The parents will feed their little ones (who aren’t black and white yet, simply brown and fluffy) predigested food. The parents constantly feed these unruly chicks.After a penguin comes back from the ocean with food, they will peck and bow ritualistically before their mate goes off into the waters.Contact this website if you require information on antarctica travel adventures.

Believe it or not, there is nothing cute about penguins. They are belligerent and demanding. And, they stink.Even so, we maintain our fascination with these birds. Our desire to visit them in their habitat has greatly increased the number of people visiting Antarctica.

Don’t get the idea that penguins are all that Antarctica has to offer. Whales, dolphins and seals inhabit the waters; sea birds like albatross fill the sky. The land and seascapes are beautiful, as well.Some of the cathedrals in Europe sport spires that are much shorter than the ones found on glaciers in Antarctica.There is also the rush you can get from visiting a place that only a handful of people have ever been before. The world?s final border, Antarctica is the last frontier.

Getting to the continent is a major section of the adventure.You will find the tip alone to be exotic as well as exciting and expensive. If traveling from the US, you’ll fly for nearly twenty hours to reach Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost port.Punta Arenas, Chile; Cape Town, South Africa; and Christchurch, New Zealand also offer ships that have been specially rated for the trip. Because this is the only way to reach the continent, you must endure the several days of rough seas.Further information on antarctic travel can be found there.

Bigger than Americaand Mexico together, and it boasts having over 70% of the earth’s fresh water supply and is surrounded by ice shelves that are larger than some of our continents.When you start booking your cruise, you can choose an itinerary that will last anywhere from 10 days to 28 days. You can also choose from ships that host between 75 and 200 passengers.Don?t expect the same amenities as ships that sail in the Mediterranean or Caribbean.You?ll be regaled by lectures and slideshows of Antarctica instead of lured to the casino.

Visits to seal colonies, penguin rookeries, and research centers on Antarctica are made possible by the use of smaller rafts. Passengers are ferried to land from the larger ships.

Five different countries have research stations in Antarctica, but Antarctica has been decidedly border free and environmentally protected as per an international agreement to keep the country exactly as it is.

Some people harbor the concern that touring Antarctica is a serious hazard. Flyover tourism was ended in 1979 with the crash of a DC-10. All 257 passengers aboard the plane were killed.Because more people are becoming curious about Antarctica, the fear is that it is going to become a much more lively tourist destination, which will endanger the fragile ecosystem. There are debates between scientists, environmentalists, and politicians as to whether the tourism to Antarctica should become a limited thing. There are two sides to the debate, and the first is the fight to protect Antarctica. They must also think about the good a returning tourist can spread.

At the moment, tourism to Antarctica is not regulated.Eco-tourism?s basic ideas do hold true for those visiting Antarctica.You can only take pictures, leave only footprints, and stay away from the natives.Pack clothing that can be layered.Pack you own waffle-soled, waterproof boots and plenty of extra socks. Most ships will supply you with a down-filled parka. There are no convenience stores in Antarctica, so don?t forget your super-strong sunscreen and sunglasses. Pack your camera, too.

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As per international treaties, Antarctica as a continent is protected from harm and is considered a wilderness preserve, so that all of the emperor penguins, blue whales, and every other bit of wildlife is protected.This coldest and most pristine of the world’s ecosystems has been protected since 1998. Oil drilling is banned for at least 50 years. Conservation is emphasized over development interests. The agreement forbids a number or possible threats to wildlife including pesticides and non-native animals.

The agreement in question is titled the Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctica Treaty.Essentially, this means that all of the countries in the world have agreed to set aside one area that is not commercialized or industrialized.In 1991, the 26 biggest nations of the world approved the bill, including Brazil, the nations of Europe, China, India, Japan, Russia, Argentina, and the United States of America, among others.To find antarctica travel guide information see this resource.

The agreement ended the more than 15 years of diplomatic discussions and lobbying by environmental groups by codifying regulations. In addition to making the mining and drilling of natural resources illegal, all of the scientific stations in Antarctica must dispose of their trash properly.It keeps tourists shops and scientific stations from discharging raw sewage into the surrounding waters.

Sled dogs were how explorers like Norwegian’s Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole in 1911.The accord, however, prohibits any dogs on the continent, as penguins and other native fowl have been killed by pets belonging to researchers.Also banned from being brought into Antarctica are pesticides, polystyrene packaging and non-sterile soil.

The land of the Arctic is covered by ice that is on average 1 mile in thickness and only supports the most basic plant life, like moss and grass by shorelines. The ice cover contains 70 percent of the earth’s fresh water.The water surrounding the continent is full of whales, seals, fish and sea birds.If you want more comprehensive info on adventure antarctica tours that site will help you.

Antarctica is one of the most delicate locations on earth.Due to the constant below zero temperatures, any growth if slow. Any disturbances can take years to fix.Footprints, for example, can take as much as 10 years to disappear.

The original Antarctic Treaty, executed in 1959, prohibited nuclear tests and any military maneuvers in the area.Rules for research were established and Antarctica was declared to be owned by no nation.A nation occupies nearly every inch of the area even though no one actually owns Antarctica.

When scientists reported the discovery of oil, coal, gold, zinc, iron, uranium, manganese, and copper, among other minerals, environmental organizations started fighting to establish laws to protect Antarctica early in the 1980’s. The ideas of drilling in Antarctica got tossed around in the 1970s when the energy crisis took place.With technology advancement and increases in the price of oil, interest in these deposits will probably become more intense.

While it is law in all twenty-six countries, each nation would enforce the regulations individually.However, if the citizens of a particular country are in violation of the agreement, and that country does not address the infraction, the remaining countries will pressure the government of that nation to deal with it.This agreement is viewed by many to be a victory for the environment.

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Dallas, USA and the South Pole have something in common – they both will probably have 100 degree temperatures in July.The difference is that at the South Pole the temperature is 100 degrees below zero.This means you could freeze your skin off in mere seconds.

Twenty-eight brave people live at the South Pole for six months each year, sacrificing sunlight, most communication with the rest of the world, and the possibility of escaping the area.They are there to maintain the U.S polar base and operate the telescopes and other scientific devices located at the research station.Thankfully, their jobs are becoming easier thanks to modern technology.

Recently North American astronomers were able to control the South Pole observatory’s telescope using satellite communications.At no time beforehand had the South Pole telescopes been operated from so great a distance.Astronomers are wishing that someday they will have the ability of observing the universe from the South Pole while being physically located in a warm office somewhere else.adventure antarctica tours

The people who stay at the South Pole have to contend with the coldest, driest and windiest climates in the world.They also have to be careful of breathing difficulties as the result of the high altitudes at the South Pole.It is the harsh and severely cold climate that makes it only possible for cold-adapted plants and animals to survive on this continent. These include penguins, seals, and various forms of algae and tundra vegetation.

“Winter-over” is the moniker given to people who spend their winter working in Antarctica for whatever reason.Winter-overs are supplied with a large video collection, an exercise room, computers, a pool table and very good food.Winter-overs are reluctant to discuss what occurs between when the station closes in February and when the military plane returns them to civilization in October.antarctica holiday

Due to the huge growth of the research program at the South Pole, there are still continuous problems with insufficient electrical power.The computers, telescopes, lasers and other electrical powered equipment use more energy than the station’s three oil-burning generators are able to produce.This causes winter-overs to have to deal with not enough power, crowed living arrangements, and cold buildings.

The winter months are broken up using some traditions.Induction into the “300 Club” requires a day when the outside temperature has fallen to at least 100 degrees below zero.A sauna is heated up to 200 degrees.They then sprint from the 200 degree sauna into the minus 100 degree air and back again.

They also look forward to the annual airdrop.This occurs in June. It is the drop of pallets of food, mail, and supplies by a U.S. Air National Guard military transport plane.The winter-overs will operate heavy equipment to retrieve the supplies and bring them into the station.This is the closest winter-overs are able to get to physical contact with anyone outside the South Pole area for six months.

For the full six months that they are there, they will not view a tree or wander more than one mile from the pole.However, every worker will be given one week’s vacation at McMurdo, which the primary U.S. Antarctic base.While on vacation, the winter-overs can enjoy camping and frolicking on the rocky beach in jeans and t-shirts in the relatively warm 25-degree weather.

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As vicious as it is brutal, Antarctica is a unique gem.Every other continent has spilled the blood of man through war.However, even though Antarctica encompasses a larger area than the United States and Europe together, violent deaths are more common that those by natural causes, as the temperatures are too low to accommodate most germs.

The contrast in the living environment is remarkable. Hostile political forces work together without conflict in a warm environment, while outside the 100 below zero temperatures could very quickly freeze their blood.Having a healthy appetite is welcomed in Antarctica as many have discovered when they’re downing four good meals a day, and the incredibly low temperature just devours calories quicker than any known diet.

The endless days of Antarctica also brings forth the mass insomnia known as “The Big Eye”. The summertime 3-am sunshine prevent many from sleeping comfortable.Where else, other than Antarctica, would you find the most elite club on the planet, the “300 Degree Club?”It holds claim to the cheapest and southernmost bar on the planet, located at the South Pole. Here it is possible to get a 12 year old scotch or a cognac for the same exact price and still have a huge bar tab by the time you are ready to leave.From the month of April through December, the nights become endless.antarctica cruise prices

The heartland of Antarctica is blanketed with a moving cap of ice that is 9,000 feet thick; however, geologists believe that there may be sufficient coal, natural gas, and oil to supply the planet within it.The laws of the land, or lack thereof, are such that extradition of fugitives does not come to pass, nor could one escape into the nine-million square miles of open space, mountain ranges that teach to 15,000 feet, or the expansive valleys that would exact swift retribution from an escaped felon.

Even though it has such a lack of laws, Antarctica actually has the lowest rate of crime out of any continent on the world.This continent might be considered the best place to commit the perfect crime, as if someone has ever killed anyone, they’ve never been prosecuted for it.There is no place on the continent were extradition treaties or any other statute would allow for the murderer to be charged or prosecuted.adventure antarctica cruises

While 10 nations have flags flying over this amazing continent, no nation calls any of the continent’s real estate its own.There has never been any attempts to form permanent colonies on the primitive lands of this continent. However, when compared to any other location in the world, the most complicated and technology advanced equipment is located here. There are even computers at the South Pole.

Most of the residents will not permanently live here, but they are some of the brightest in the world.There is no other place on Earth were more people have a university degree than a high school diploma.The scientific knowledge on the continent exceeds that of any university, and the climate of the research is more peaceful than can be found in any capital on earth.Also, this large land mass is the only one who you are not allowed to detonate nuclear bombs.

It has the most stringent environmental protection of all the land masses.Animals that were once slaughtered by whale and seal hunters are now somewhat protected, as special licenses must now be obtained prior before hunting. In today’s world, Antarctica is the scientists’ paradise, they all work together to do what they can to maintain this pure continent.

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