Iceberg in Antarctica
Antarctica cruise and kayak

Antarctic travelogue

Wilhelmina bay icebergs and glaciers

Day 7 (continuation)
  • Position: Wilhelmina bay
  • Hour: 2:00pm
  • Latitude: 64°53’S
  • Longitude: 62°52’W
  • Distance: 867Nm
  • Air temperature: 3°C
  • Water temperature: 1°C

carved icebergThe weather is still nice, we are lucky to sail Antarctica with a deep blue sky and bright sunshine. The icebreaker is anchoring at Wilhelmina bay surrounded by very high summits overhanging the ship, some of them higher than 2000 meters.
The afternoon is dedicated to an amazing zodiac cruise starting with the observation of the impreial shag (aka blue-eyed shag) and even krill, visible is the cristal clear antarctic waters. A bit farther is an area where many massive icebergs leave us speechless as their size, shapes and colours impose respect.

Several icebergs are glowing in the sun because they've just flipped over. The former immersed part is now the emerged one. It reveals the consequences of so many months spent underwater, either shaped by melting of ice and air bubbles release which litterally carved their surface. The icebergs are so huge that nearby zodiacs look like ants.

Surrounding summits also impose respect. Their snowy slopes are home of many glaciers overhanging the bay. From time to time thunderous noise indicates an avalanche in under way, ending in the ocean in deafening crash. Before travelling to Antarctica I thought the white continent was totally flat! I was wrong. Actually the antarctica peninsula is a vast mountain range whereas the central plateau is a flat area.

But in the end, as the wind started to blow, it became very chilly and after a three hours memorable zodiac cruise, we headed back to the icebreaker.
During diner, Professor Multanovskiy weigh anchor leaving behind the antarctica peninsula bound for south Shetland. On our way we are witness of a superb sunset illuminating the surrounding summits. The show is all the more fantastic as not less than six humpback whales are successively spotted on the starboard side.

[Continuation] South Shetland islands ( half moon and Aichoa islands)