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"Magical,
surreal, and otherworldly, Antarctica is a land of ultimates.
It is the southernmost continent, and it is the coldest and windiest place on Earth. With
virtually no rainfall and more than 95% of the landmass covered in ice,
Antarctica is the world’s largest desert. "
Star Slipock
SEED Volunteer
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Our ship, the Endeavour, dropped anchor in fast ice,
amid penguins. |
Not
surprisingly, Antarctica has no permanent human residents. It is the only
continent with no government or political activity. In 1959 the world
officially recognized the uniqueness of Antarctica and made it a scientific
preserve. It is protected by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources. This agreement seeks to manage the ecosystem as a
whole, rather than just setting limits on a few targeted species. 
My
husband and I decided we wanted to see Antarctica. The simplest way to do this
is from the deck of a cruise ship. From there, you can snap photos of glaciers,
penguins, and seals to your heart’s content. But to really leave your
footprint on the frozen landscape, you need to get off the ship. We chose an 11-day
expedition that takes passengers into the interior for mountain climbing and
exploration. Our ship, the National Geographic/Lindblad Expedition Endeavour, is equipped to
navigate icy waters.
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