1. Chilean Fjords and the Antarctic Peninsula on the Norwegian MS Nordnorge, 15 Jan – 2 Feb 2003

2. Ship’s Route

3. Dr. Glen Liston is a scientific lecturer on the cruise. Katherine Ihli is along for the ride.

4. Our cabin on the ship

5. Heading out to the Chilean fjords

6. The Chilean Fjords are lined with forested mountains and beautiful foliage.

8. Small mountain glaciers line the fjords

9. Last glimpse of Cape Horn before crossing the Drake Passage. We encountered 8 meter (24 foot) seas during the crossing. The lighthouse at Cape Horn

10. Travel within Antarctic waters and on land is governed by the Antarctic Treaty and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). The associated rules govern: 1) Respect for Protected Areas 2) Respect for Scientific Research 3) Safety 4) Protecting Antarctic Wildlife 5) Keeping Antarctica Pristine

11. To transfer passengers to shore, a door is opened on the side of the ship and stairs are hung out the door. Next, a larger door is opened and the Zodiac boat is lowered into the water.

12. Before we get board the Zodiac boats, we put on rubber booties. Then we step into disinfectant and walk through a seawater spray. The process is repeated when we reboard the ship.

13. First stop on the Antarctic Peninsula. Old whaling station at Whaler’s Bay on Deception Island

14. Neptune’s Window. From here you can see the Antarctic continent.

15. We begin sailing through the Lemaire Channel … and see our first icebergs.

16. The icebergs are everywhere

18. In the heart of the Antarctic Peninsula Mountains

20. Fin whales follow the boat

21. Humpback Whale

22. SEA BIRDS Kelb Gull Wandering Albatross, 3.5 m (12’) wingspan! Cape Petrel

23. The British station, Port Lockroy, is located on this little island, Goudier Island.

24. Gentoo penguins at Port Lockroy

25. Gentoo penguins typically have two chicks

26. Completely devoid of muscle, these little blobs of fat actually sway in the wind!

28. Petermann Island

30. Love Birds

33. Rare albino Gentoo penguins

34. We head back through the Lemaire Channel

36. Abandoned Argentenian base of Almirante Brown in Paradise Bay located on the Antarctic mainland

37. Glen is stationed at the top of the hill

38. The ship is on one side, an avalanche on the other! View from the hilltop

39. After our landing, we take a Zodiac cruise around the harbor

40. Heading to Culverville Island to view more …

41. … Penguins

42. These Gentoo chicks have been herded into what is called a Kindergarden. Just a few adults watch the babies while the rest are out fishing. Yankee Harbor

43. Arctowski Base, a Polish station

44. Elephant seals, like huge land-slugs

45. Weddell seals

46. 1 2 3 4

47. This dirty, young chick has not learned to swim yet. It will have to lose it’s downy fuzz first.

48. Adelie penguins They flop on their bellies and scoot along the snow with their feet.

49. Rookery at Arctowski Chinstrap penguin

50. These Chinstrap penguins achieving the closest thing to flight they will ever attain!

51. On the way to Elephant Island we begin to encounter larger icebergs from the Larsen Ice Shelf

52. They are all around the ship

53. Getting bigger..

54. … and bigger

55. … and thicker

56. Thicker ice means higher pressure which creates beautiful blue colors

57. Some have veins of deeper blue

58. Others have passengers

59. Some you could drive a (small) ship through

60. We say goodbye to the penguins and icebergs and head back to South America

61. Back across the Drake Passage

62. Ushuaia, Argentina’s southern-most city. The end of the journey. Photos courtesy of Katherine Ihli, Dr. Glen Liston, and Dr. Bernhard Wessling. All rights reserved.