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Come on a journey across the vast Southern Ocean
Cape Adare - an historic hut on a windswept shoal and one or two penguins!
Further south we reach the Antarctic continent. On the edge of the Ross Sea we anchor at Cape Adare - what a noisy place! Here the summer is very short and to ensure survival, Adelie parents must fatten their young up quickly so they can manage the cold temperatures. They are fed on Antarctic krill, a very high-energy food. It results in the pink stains all over the ground from penguin droppings. When the droppings are green, it is from the penguins passing bile, this tells us there is no food left in their stomachs. |
(Click to enlarge)
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(Click to enlarge) |
Borchgrevink's Hut was built by a British team in 1899 and named after its Norwegian leader. Over one hundred years later, buffeted by the wind, it is still withstanding the driving hail, snow and sleet. Scott and his party stayed here in 1911. |
(Click to enlarge) |
(Click to enlarge) |
(Click to enlarge) |
| Inside we were delighted to see the equipment and stores left in place by those hardy early explorers. |
Adelie penguin chicks "take a break" around the remains of storage sheds. |
Adelie parents must make the journey out to the edge of the ice to gather more food for hungry chicks. They also get to "wash up" and clean off the droppings and mud, returning their feathers to pristine condition. |
Next - Next stop the Possession Islands. |
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