Pengiuns of Antarctica

Posted on Friday, November 25, 2011

Penguins of Antarctica

In Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands, we can see the Magellanic, rockhopper and king penguins.

The Magellanic penguin is of the group most people are familiar with…the little man in the tuxedo. It is a rather small, black and white animal, with a prominent black band that crosses the chest and extends down the two flanks, as well as a white stripe around each cheek.

The rockhopper penguin has two very obvious narrow bands of yellow feathers that extend from the base of the red, stout bill over the eyes and off to the sides as loose plumes. Otherwise, they are the basic black and white penguin design. The rockhopper penguin typically nests on steep, rocky shorelines with direct access to the sea, although the chosen sites often involves a lengthy, difficult climb to reach, which forces it to hop on the rocks and boulders…hence the name.

King penguins were once very numerous in the Falkland Islands, but they were nearly extirpated in the 19th and early 20th centuries for their oil. A few colonies have become reestablished in recent decades, but their numbers are still very low here. The king penguin is a very large, colorful and attractive animal with a dark, bluish-gray back, white front with a yellow-orange throat patch and an orange, upside-down, teardrop-shaped marking on each side of the black head.

Around the Antarctic Peninsula, we commonly see gentoo, Adélie, chinstrap, emperor, and rarely Macaroni penguins. 

The gentoo is a basic black and white penguin, but has a prominent white triangular patch above each eye, brilliant orange-red markings on either side of the beak and a black throat. This species is the least common of the Antarctic penguins, but has been spreading farther southward in the peninsular region within recent years.

Adélie penguins are entirely black and white, with no bright colorful markings. This species commonly forms huge colonies during the breeding season, often numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

The Chinstrap penguin is very similar to the Adélie penguin in markings and size. Like the Adélie, this species also commonly forms huge colonies, sometimes numbering in hundreds of thousands or even millions.

Sighting the emperor penguin is always an exciting event. This is the largest penguin, standing at nearly four feet, and is usually encountered singly or in small groups on sea ice. It is closely related to the king penguin and has a somewhat similar appearance, although it is much more massive than the king.

On South Georgia, we can see king, gentoo, chinstrap, and Macaroni penguins.

The Macaroni penguin is a boisterous, scrappy little crested penguin that looks very much like the rockhopper penguin, except the Macaroni’s crest is gold in color, and considerably thicker. This is the most common penguin in Antarctica, but it typically places its colonies along steep, rocky shorelines, usually on isolated, storm-tossed islands that make observation somewhat difficult.

Content courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions.

Gap Adventures' Bear-antee or a FREE cruise!

Posted on Friday, July 15, 2011

From close-up encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region's plentiful wildlife, this is a voyage of non-stop highlights! Always on the lookout for wildlife, you'll explore this landscape not only by ship but also on foot and by Zodiac. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land we dare only to explore a couple months of the year.

Gap Adventures is confident you'll see a Polar Bear on their Arctic cruises, they're offering a 100% Bear-antee! If they can't spot a polar bear, every passenger on board will be credited the value of their cruise to put toward a future M/S Expedition Arctic cruise.

Swim with the Polar Bears

Posted on Monday, January 04, 2010

You don't have to be a member of a polar bear club - those hardy groups of cold water plungers - to take advantage of Hurtigruten's offers to enjoy a dip in the world's coldest waters, whether in Antarctica, the Arctic's Spitsbergen, Greenland, or Norway's Vardø on the Barents Sea.  “As far as sea conditions allow, our expedition team will ensure that the bravest of our guests are able to satisfy their thirst for adventure in the water," states Hurtigruten product coordinator Jørn Henriksen.  Ideal for those travelers who prefer to bring home more than t-shirts and tans, the dip in the polar waters is something that truly stands out when it comes to bragging - and the Polar Dip Certificate awarded to each participant provides needed verification. 

During Antarctica's summer months, guests aboard Hurtigruten's deluxe expedition ship, MV Fram, can enjoy the remarkably refreshing icy waters of one of the largest natural harbours in the world -- off the volcanic Deception Island.  The average temperature of this natural ocean pool is a bracing zero degrees Celsius. However, geothermic activity does mean that bathers can occasionally feel a 'comfortable' current of water above freezing.  During the North Pole's summer, guests aboard the same ship can entertain a quick jump into the waters of Spitsbergen's Magdelenefjord, avoiding the icebergs, of course; or for those spending 8 to 15 days exploring Greenland, a brief splash in the sea around Uummannaq, a small town 360 miles north of the polar circle and site of the annual Ice Golf World Championship.  If a swim in ice-free waters is preferred (due solely to the Gulf Stream), Hurtigruten offers a Norwegian Coastal Voyage cruise extension that makes its way to Norway's Vardø on the Barents Sea, where guests can float in a survival suit while their team leader dives for the evening's meal of King Crab - a wonderful way to combine a sea frolic with the need to catch dinner.

As a leader in Expedition Cruising, Hurtigruten's portfolio of adventure expeditions take guests to both ends of the world -- where pristine environments, unique wildlife and stunning vistas are combined with the opportunity to learn from experts in numerous disciplines including geology, marine life, environment, history and culture.