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Markus Eichenberger | profile | all galleries >> SOUTH AMERICA TRIP >> ANTARCTICA tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

ANTARCTICA

I went to Antarctica without much expectations. And now that I am back I think it is the first time in my life that I am completely incapable to describe the place. It is just unbelievable beautiful. And one feels like being on another planet... Best is to describe it with the photos ;-)
Ready for the trip !
Ready for the trip !		 first glymps of our ship...
first glymps of our ship...		 and off we go
and off we go		 1st January 2013, what a start !
1st January 2013, what a start !		 a blue tourist on the deck...
a blue tourist on the deck...
sailing under Argentinian Flag
sailing under Argentinian Flag		 it was a beautiful day
it was a beautiful day		 we got some visitors
we got some visitors		 while crossing the Drake Passage
while crossing the Drake Passage		 arriving in Antarctica, the first view of the coast
arriving in Antarctica, the first view of the coast
and our first penguin ! The weather was very rough...
and our first penguin ! The weather was very rough...		 even the penguins were in a bad mood...
even the penguins were in a bad mood...		 back on board, the captain monitoring the way
back on board, the captain monitoring the way		 and guiding us through all the ice
and guiding us through all the ice		 very safely. He did a great job
very safely. He did a great job
most important place on board, the coffee machine
most important place on board, the coffee machine		 and the bar area, where we spend a lot of time
and the bar area, where we spend a lot of time		 playing dice and studing the different animals
playing dice and studing the different animals		 going down the stairs
going down the stairs		 I had a shared cabin on the 3rd deck
I had a shared cabin on the 3rd deck
walking down the corridor
walking down the corridor		 and here the inside of our cabin, shared by 3 people
and here the inside of our cabin, shared by 3 people		 with shower and toilet
with shower and toilet		 and a proper sink
and a proper sink		 and this is the way to get into a zodiac
and this is the way to get into a zodiac
a rubber boat that carries 10 people
a rubber boat that carries 10 people		 and is used to get on shore or cruising around
and is used to get on shore or cruising around		 the zodiacs are very safe and have a 60hp engine
the zodiacs are very safe and have a 60hp engine		 the ship was called MV Ortelius
the ship was called MV Ortelius		 originally used as an expedition ship by the Russians
originally used as an expedition ship by the Russians
and here with a visitor, a whale!
and here with a visitor, a whale!		 Panoramic View over Baileyīs Head
Panoramic View over Baileyīs Head		 Baileys Head is a famous place for penguin rookery
Baileys Head is a famous place for penguin rookery		 with tenīs of thousands of Chinstrap penguins
with tenīs of thousands of Chinstrap penguins		 one can smell them before seeing them though...
one can smell them before seeing them though...
it was just after breeding season
it was just after breeding season		 and there were lots of chicks around
and there were lots of chicks around		 and a guy busy transporting stones to make the nest
and a guy busy transporting stones to make the nest		 unfortunately, it also means it is a good time
unfortunately, it also means it is a good time		 for skua birds who feed on the chicks
for skua birds who feed on the chicks
and fighting in the air over the food
and fighting in the air over the food		 a black and white view of the amount of penguins
a black and white view of the amount of penguins		 and going out to see to get some krill for the chicks
and going out to see to get some krill for the chicks		 A Panoramic View of the back of Base W
A Panoramic View of the back of Base W		 and at the Base W, now a museum
and at the Base W, now a museum
that still has all the food stuff
that still has all the food stuff		 of the British when they were here
of the British when they were here		 like these tin canned cigarettes !!!
like these tin canned cigarettes !!!		 but the more interesting part
but the more interesting part		 here is the wildlife ! An Adelie Penguin
here is the wildlife ! An Adelie Penguin
and huge icebergs
and huge icebergs		 And a crabeater seal
And a crabeater seal		 that seemed to pose for us
that seemed to pose for us		 and not at all shy...
and not at all shy...		 cruising with our zodiac around the area
cruising with our zodiac around the area
and watching the Adelie Penguins
and watching the Adelie Penguins		 and well, they watched us too !
and well, they watched us too !		 this is the area where we cruised around
this is the area where we cruised around		 and with some amzing rough sea as well...
and with some amzing rough sea as well... 		and here, well another one of these
and here, well another one of these
they were just everywhere
they were just everywhere		 and the way they move is just
and the way they move is just 		very fascinating
very fascinating		 I could watch them for hours
I could watch them for hours		 without getting tired
without getting tired
for example when they transport stones
for example when they transport stones		 or when you see them jumping
or when you see them jumping 		from some big iceberg
from some big iceberg		 into the water
into the water		 JUMP !!!
JUMP !!!
sometimes more stylish
sometimes more stylish		 and gracious
and gracious		 and sometimes very clumbsy...
and sometimes very clumbsy...		 the blue of the ice was just amazing
the blue of the ice was just amazing		 and when the first starts jumping
and when the first starts jumping
normally the rest of them
normally the rest of them 		will follow
will follow		 here one can see that the icebergs
here one can see that the icebergs		 are very big underwater
are very big underwater		 and sometimes just donīt look big at all
and sometimes just donīt look big at all
until one gets closer
until one gets closer		 and realises how deep they go
and realises how deep they go		 even my wide angle lens could not
even my wide angle lens could not 		capture all of it...
capture all of it... 		and you can see how far away we were
and you can see how far away we were
which sometimes was hard to spot the penguins
which sometimes was hard to spot the penguins		 but then when you get closer you see them
but then when you get closer you see them		 the icebergs were everywhere
the icebergs were everywhere		 and sometimes came in bizarr formations, like this arch
and sometimes came in bizarr formations, like this arch		 our ship was always around it
our ship was always around it
penguins can jump up the icebergs
penguins can jump up the icebergs		 as they would be to steep to climb
as they would be to steep to climb		 our ship in the background :D
our ship in the background :D		 and us cruising around
and us cruising around		 with lots of small ice blocs in the way
with lots of small ice blocs in the way
another seal yawning
another seal yawning		 and enjoying itself
and enjoying itself		 almost eating our ship...
almost eating our ship...		 and this blue tourist again...
and this blue tourist again...		 very nice bluish iceberg...
very nice bluish iceberg...
Parking our ship next to an iceberg !!!
"Parking" our ship next to an iceberg !!!		 another seal enjoying the peaceful place
another seal enjoying the peaceful place		 until we arrived, wonder what these strange penguins were doing
until we arrived, wonder what these strange penguins were doing		 while cruising around further
while cruising around further		 we spotted a lonely guy
we spotted a lonely guy
might have lost his mates...
might have lost his mates...		 and another group of strange penguins
and another group of strange penguins		 watching a seal on a fantastic iceberg
watching a seal on a fantastic iceberg		 another lost guy
another "lost" guy		 Cuverville Island was for me one of the highlights
Cuverville Island was for me one of the highlights
as it was a very beautiful hill
as it was a very beautiful hill 		overlooking a bay during sunset
overlooking a bay during sunset		 of an unforgetable sunset
of an unforgetable sunset		 the colour was perfect
the colour was perfect		 and there were lots of animals
and there were lots of animals
and even a ship passing by
and even a ship passing by		 while I took photos against the backdrop
while I took photos against the backdrop		 even the penguins enjoyed it!
even the penguins enjoyed it!		 overlooking icebergs
overlooking icebergs		 and some of the penguins
and some of the penguins
did some yoga and meditation as well
did some yoga and meditation as well		 this sunset was at 11pm at night
this sunset was at 11pm at night		 when we had to go back to the ship
when we had to go back to the ship		 While sailing to another place we saw orca whales
While sailing to another place we saw orca whales		 and some huge Albatross birds
and some huge Albatross birds
we ankered at a new place
we ankered at a new place		 which name sounded like Aicho Bay
which name sounded like Aicho Bay		 and had lots of Gentoo penguins
and had lots of Gentoo penguins		 getting out of the water
getting out of the water		 together with some Chinstrap Penguins
together with some Chinstrap Penguins
waddling off
waddling off		 and drying themselves in the sun
and drying themselves in the sun		 we even saw a cormorant bird
we even saw a cormorant bird 		and some seals again of course
and some seals again of course		 the weather got rough
the weather got rough
and it got more complicated to get back on the zodiacs
and it got more complicated to get back on the zodiacs		 another highlight was Hope Bay
another highlight was Hope Bay		 where which is a beautiful bay
where which is a beautiful bay		 with amazing icebergs
with amazing icebergs		 and a huge amount of wildlife
and a huge amount of wildlife
like seals
like seals		 and tenīs of thousands of Adelie penguins
and tenīs of thousands of Adelie penguins		 waddling around
waddling around		 and hundreds of them jumping into the water
and hundreds of them jumping into the water		 sometimes graceful
sometimes graceful
and sometimes not sooo much...
and sometimes not sooo much... 		while in the zodiac, they were swimming
while in the zodiac, they were swimming 		all around us, some even accidentially jumping into the boat!
all around us, some even accidentially jumping into the boat!		 curiousity kills the cat (penguin)!
curiousity kills the cat (penguin)!		 all the brown area was a penguin rookery
all the brown area was a penguin rookery
waiting for the partner...
waiting for the partner...		 being curious with blue eyes...
being curious with blue eyes...		 This was our passage through the Lemaire Channel
This was our passage through the Lemaire Channel		 which is famous for its beauty
which is famous for its beauty		 almost everyone stayed up until 2am to
almost everyone stayed up until 2am to
see the beautiful landscape
see the beautiful landscape 		and watching a sailing ship
and watching a sailing ship 		passing by. Some of our scientist swapped ships
passing by. Some of our scientist swapped ships		 and stayed on this sailing boat for some time
and stayed on this sailing boat for some time		 coming out of the channel, we saw
coming out of the channel, we saw
lots of icebergs and this stupid blue tourist again...
lots of icebergs and this stupid blue tourist again...		 while the sun slowly
while the sun slowly		 started to settle down
started to settle down		 these photos were taken
these photos were taken		 at around 10 - 11 pm
at around 10 - 11 pm
with beautiful lit icebergs getting pink
with beautiful lit icebergs getting pink		 while sunset was at around midnight
while sunset was at around midnight		 and our ship was going further south
and our ship was going further south 		This was the Argentinian Station of Paradise Bay
This was the Argentinian Station of Paradise Bay		 want to go to Paradise? -50 degrees in winter?
want to go to Paradise? -50 degrees in winter?
just getting on shore
just getting on shore		 and walking up the hill in the snow
and walking up the hill in the snow		 the view from up there was fantastic
the view from up there was fantastic		 it was great to overlook the bay
it was great to overlook the bay		 and to see how clear the water was
and to see how clear the water was
A Petrel Bird flying around me
A Petrel Bird flying around me		 most likely having the nest
most likely having the nest 		somewhere below in the rocks
somewhere below in the rocks		 and then I got a great view
and then I got a great view		 from above of a Humback Whale
from above of a Humback Whale
passing by
passing by		 and showing off its fluke
and showing off its fluke		 another view shot before descending
another view shot before descending		 a piece of ice floating around
a piece of ice floating around		 and penguins all over the place
and penguins all over the place
with lots of icebergs
with lots of icebergs		 where we cruised around with our zodiacs
where we cruised around with our zodiacs		 to get the view of the blue
to get the view of the blue		 and the snow mountains
and the snow mountains		 and again, icebergs everywhere
and again, icebergs everywhere
in all shapes and colours
in all shapes and colours		 with some Chinstrap Penguin hiding
with some Chinstrap Penguin hiding		 and an unusal shaped iceberg
and an unusal shaped iceberg		 which had this huge lines
which had this huge lines		 all over. Most likely carved by moving around
all over. Most likely carved by moving around
Then there were some seals around the area
Then there were some seals around the area		 with an iceberg forming a window to see the penguin
with an iceberg forming a window to see the penguin		 or hopping from stone to stone
or hopping from stone to stone		 or just relaxing on the ice :D
or just relaxing on the ice :D		 the fur of the seal was amazing
the fur of the seal was amazing
Anchoring at Petermann Island
Anchoring at Petermann Island		 and getting a visit by Humback Whales
and getting a visit by Humback Whales		 showing off their flukes
showing off their flukes		 just turning around in our zodiac
just turning around in our zodiac		 we saw this group of Gentoos jumping
we saw this group of Gentoos jumping
a very beautiful Gentoo jumping out of the water
a very beautiful Gentoo jumping out of the water		 and turning around again
and turning around again		 there was this massive Humback Whale
there was this massive Humback Whale		 just very close to us
just very close to us		 we got soo much wildlife
we got soo much wildlife
it got almost stressful, ha,ha,ha...
it got almost stressful, ha,ha,ha...		 one could take thousands of
one could take thousands of 		photos here or just sit back and relax
photos here or just sit back and relax		 and enjoying the beauty of the place
and enjoying the beauty of the place		 as this penguin did as well :D
as this penguin did as well :D
cruising around the area was magic
cruising around the area was magic		 and you can see everyone was taking photos with big big cameras
and you can see everyone was taking photos with big big cameras		 or just busy explaining wildlife to us
or just busy explaining wildlife to us		 another beautiful iceberg
another beautiful iceberg		 and another amazing Humback Whale Fluke
and another amazing Humback Whale Fluke
the Whales got extremely close to our zodiacs
the Whales got extremely close to our zodiacs		 and on shore, an abandoned Argentinian Base
and on shore, an abandoned Argentinian Base		 with lots of Gentoo Penguins around it
with lots of Gentoo Penguins around it		 breeding their chicks
breeding their chicks		 and from time to time, an Adelie passed by
and from time to time, an Adelie passed by
being very curious about who these strange guys were
being very curious about who these strange guys were		 and this blue tourist again, the penguin just came up to me !!
and this blue tourist again, the penguin just came up to me !!		 Booth Island was an evening landing
Booth Island was an evening landing		 with amazing light
with amazing light 		and lots of Gentoo penguins
and lots of Gentoo penguins
screaming for whatever reason
screaming for whatever reason		 and with that light
and with that light		 it was the perfect setup for photos!
it was the perfect setup for photos!		 I think the penguins really found
I think the penguins really found		 paradise in that place, they were very relaxed
paradise in that place, they were very relaxed
and with that sunset, I think so too...
and with that sunset, I think so too...		 overlooking a Gentoo rookery
overlooking a Gentoo rookery		 and sunset with various
and sunset with various		 shots of a penguin
shots of a penguin		 I stayed half an hour there
I stayed half an hour there
just waiting for the right light
just waiting for the right light		 and the penguin doing
and the penguin doing		 what I wanted them to do...
what I wanted them to do...		 Sometimes patience pays off
Sometimes patience pays off 		eventually :D
eventually :D
looking back the other side, the mountain
looking back the other side, the mountain		 and the surroundings got that
and the surroundings got that		 magic light that I have only seen here
magic light that I have only seen here		 even the penguins went home very orderly
even the penguins went home very orderly		 last sunrays over the iceberg cemetery
last sunrays over the iceberg cemetery
going back to the zodiacs
going back to the zodiacs		 not really in the mood to leave the place
not really in the mood to leave the place		 but eventually took the last zodiac :D
but eventually took the last zodiac :D		 Next day we sailed to Port Lockroy
Next day we sailed to Port Lockroy		 which is the only comercially operated place
which is the only comercially operated place
with my friends, John, Gerry and Laura
with my friends, John, Gerry and Laura		 that also is a scientific station for the British
that also is a scientific station for the British		 and housing a museum
and housing a museum		 which exhibits all kind of things people used 100 years ago
which exhibits all kind of things people used 100 years ago		 to survive the harsh climate here
to survive the harsh climate here
well, and then there was this blue tourist again....
well, and then there was this blue tourist again....		 on the other side of the station is a huge
on the other side of the station is a huge		 skelleton of a whale
skelleton of a whale		 and some very relaxed seales as well
and some very relaxed seales as well		 eventually we arrived at Whalers Bay
eventually we arrived at Whalers Bay
where we encountered this lazy seal
where we encountered this lazy seal		 scratching itself from time to time
scratching itself from time to time		 on the head but just in no mood to move at all
on the head but just in no mood to move at all		 and some penguins strolling along the beach
and some penguins strolling along the beach		 and a strange looking white penguin among others
and a strange looking white penguin among others
Ortelius waiting for us in the bay
Ortelius waiting for us in the bay		 walking along some amazing rock formation
walking along some amazing rock formation		 and looking down to a cove
and looking down to a cove		 where lots of birds where nesting
where lots of birds where nesting		 Some Petrels flying around
Some Petrels flying around
most likely having their nests in the rocks
most likely having their nests in the rocks		 and providing food to their chicks
and providing food to their chicks		 one of our last stops in Antarctica
one of our last stops in Antarctica		 was Yankee Harbour
was Yankee Harbour 		where men with big guns shoot penguins :D
where men with big guns shoot penguins :D
there was a busy highway
there was a busy highway		 with a lonely Penguin walking on it
with a lonely Penguin walking on it		 the weather was very clouded, which gave a great background
the weather was very clouded, which gave a great background		 and lots of Penguins with chicks
and lots of Penguins with chicks		 and some predators watching out for an opportunity
and some predators watching out for an opportunity
and mothers defending their chicks
and mothers defending their chicks 		until they grow up to a respective size
until they grow up to a respective size		 These are Elephant Seals
These are Elephant Seals		 a guy with an attitude
a guy with an attitude		 and a poor penguin defending a dead one
and a poor penguin defending a dead one
so much of being lazy...
so much of being lazy...		 Then we headed back through the Lemaire Channel
Then we headed back through the Lemaire Channel		 enjoying another unforgettable sunset
enjoying another unforgettable sunset		 with amazing mountains all around
with amazing mountains all around		 and pack ice cracking under the weight of the ship
and pack ice cracking under the weight of the ship

comment | share
Sylvia lins 18-Feb-2013 11:40
Always enjoying the "blue world" by my friend and photographer Markus. Congratulations! Beautiful photographs.
pictaker10-Feb-2013 06:12
FANTASTIC IMAGES!
joseantonio09-Feb-2013 20:17
Must have been quite an experience. Thank you for sharing.V.
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