Elsehul and Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, 12/5/2017, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
Antarctica
We have arrived. After several days at sea, the swathe of green-filled slopes makes for a striking change from the deep blue Southern Ocean. A curtain of clouds readies us for the big reveal. And what an opening act, the sheer amount of fauna biomass that thrives on these shores is a staggering showstopper but we’re not even to intermission yet.
One steady constant in Ian’s life has been the ocean. Born by the rocky shores of mid-coast Maine, his family repatriated to far north Queensland in Australia early on in his life where he became a dual-citizen and sparked his passion for exploring n...
Today was our final day on this amazing voyage to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. We awoke to the most beautiful sunrise over the city of Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city and the capital of Tierra del Fuego. This morning we had the fantastic opportunity to visit a local maritime museum here in Ushuaia for a private opening. Afterwards, we enjoyed a wonderful drive through the nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park. After a relaxing afternoon onboard National Geographic Resolution , we were treated to tours of the Bridge, and then a special wine tasting in Tupaia with our incredible bar team. To round out our day, the captain finished our expedition in style with a fabulous cocktail party. We toasted our adventures to some of the most remote islands on the planet.
Until now, we have skirted the mercurial weather of the South Atlantic. Though the sun has been rare, we have been lucky with calm seas and easy access to some of the most exciting landing sights South Georgia and the Falklands have to offer. Today, as our trip nears its end, we had the opportunity to experience a small taste of the conditions that make this such a notorious region for seafarers and explorers. With sustained winds of up to 50 knots wrapping around Cape Horn, the ocean quickly began to churn. Our captain and bridge team found us shelter in the Beagle Channel where we spent the day appreciating the power of the ocean and the biodiversity of Tierra del Fuego. While onboard in the comfort of our new ship/home, National Geographic photographer Camille Seaman shared a collection of photographs she took throughout the last two weeks. Naturalists Madalena Pachaco and Bud Lenhausen shared stories of exploration and changing climates. Photo caption: The chart shows our way to protection from the storm in the Beagle Channel. Photo by Alex Krowiak
We continued sailing from the Falkland Islands to Ushuaia, crossing the Le Maire Strait and entering the Beagle Channel. On our way, we enjoyed spectacular landscapes as seabirds followed us.
