Travel Tips

During December in Antarctica, a bright summer morning may see the temperature rise to 25 degrees below zero.It takes just one gale-forced wind blowing across a glacier that’s two miles thick, everywhere you look, to create a wind chill that’ll freeze your eyelids.You won’t find a more treacherous set of terrain than the South Pole.

Maintaining the United State’s permanent station here is no doubt the world’s most isolated and yet significant scientific outpost.At once time, no one but officially sanctioned research scientists and their support staff were allowed at the South Pole.But now, people with too much money to burn are getting small flights that will bring them to this barren landscape to view all of it’s glory.cruises to antartica

All that can really be seen is white.You won’t see so much as a penguin the whole time you’re there.On the other hand, it can be quite a feat to stand on the South Pole of the planet.

Many of the scientists and officials who live and work at the South Pole do not like the idea of the outpost being used as an attraction. This is particularly true when they have to deal with diesel bulldozers and cranes working to develop the place.This is even more true when visitors show up during research season.There isn’t much anyone can do to stop people from coming.

Protection and research of Antarctica was the aim of the treaty signed by 43 nations, although none of them, or any other country, has ownership of this frozen continent the size of Mexico and the U.S. put together.Even during the eight, pitch black, months of winter, the U.S. has three big stations that are staffed year round.There is an unwritten pact that demands that the crew provide assistance to all who journey to a latitude of 90 degrees south, whether they are there by invitation or not.great antarctic cruise

The stations discourage guests, as they are often uninformed about the region and have no idea that the elevation is 10,000 feet.The result of this is that they arrive cold, dehydrated and dealing with altitude sickness.

Back in 1975, when the dome originally opened, it was able to accommodate 33 men.Today two hundred men and women clutter into every possible bed.Winter-overs jokingly call the bunkhouses that are premade and propped up around the place Summer Camp.

There is no limit to the supply of fresh water at Summer Camp.Showers and toilets that flush can be rarities, since it takes $12 a gallon to get the fuel to melt the ice with.The long trek to a communal bathroom can be a perilous and bone-chilling experience even underneath the blazing sun at 3:00 AM.

The first women who came to Antarctica had to have military escorts.Treated as equals by co-workers, one-third of the summer’s work force is all women.The Pole is balanced equally.

According to the studies, it takes three times longer for workers to finish a simple task in the extreme cold.If your body is dealing with these temperatures, they’ll allot resources and hormone production for staying alive, as opposed to intelligence.The conditions do not get any better in the winter.

All support personnel, except for a few, will take the last airplane sometime in mid February, to winter somewhere warmer and far more hospitable.Only a crew of 28 winter-overs remain for the next six-months.It will not be until October that the sun will once again make an appearance and the planes will return.

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