The morning landing was at Hanna Point, the only place we saw with any form of plant life... lichen, hair grass, and pearl wort. Hannah Point is a point on the south coast of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It forms the east side of the entrance to Walker Bay and the west side of the entrance to South Bay. Surmounted by Ustra Peak to the north, with Liverpool Beach extending between the peak and the tip of Hannah Point. Ice-free area ca. 122 hectares (300 acres).[1] The area was visited by early 19th century sealers operating from Johnsons Dock.
Among the birds that make their home here are the Gentoo and Macaroni Penguins as well as Kelp Gulls. Southern Giant Petrels nest here as do Blue-Eyed Shags, Skuas, and Snowy Sheathbills. Southern elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals are among the larger life forms observed at the point.[2]
Hannah Point is one of the most popular Antarctic tourist sites frequented by cruise ships. The geographical feature is named after the British sealing vessel Hannah wrecked in the vicinity in 1820 while operating in the South Shetlands.
Leucism /ˈljuːsɪzəm/[1] is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals and humans. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin.
Notice the yellow lichen in these last pics
Then on to Deception Island for our last landing of the trip. Deception Island is an island in South Shetland off the Antarctic Peninsula, which has one of the safest harbours in Antarctica. The island is the caldera of an active volcano, which caused serious damage to the local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969. The island previously held a whaling station; it is now a tourist destination and scientific outpost, with research bases being run by Argentina and Spain. Various countries have previously asserted sovereignty, but it is now administered under the Antarctic Treaty System.
This is known as 'The Window,' a break in the edge of the volcanic rock rimming the caldera. Jan hiked up for a great vantage looking out to open ocean outside the protected caldera.
Fur Seals can be quite aggressive, and dangerous if you are threatening their young or, as was the case with us, blocking their escape route to the water. A long line of us Red Breasted Homo Sapiens had marched along the beach, with Jan and I, and another couple bringing up the rear. One of the seals decided it had had enough and charged us. The other couple made some half-hearted attempts to look big and make noise, as we had been instructed to do. The seal kept coming and we were getting a bit fearful, as we had also been told not to run. I summoned up the courage, from I know not where, and flapped my arms and bellowed while charging at the seal. The seal turned around, bumping into it's friend, and made a hasty retreat back away from us. It was rather comical... and no little relief!
The guides show us how it's done!
The water is a bit warmer on the shore edge due to thermal heating from the underground volcanic activity. A couple of the guides actually made a little depression right by the shore's edge and sat in it quite a while... quite warm if you let it collect like that. A few feet out though, it's definitely frigid.
Rather than taking the next Zodiac back to the ship after our plunge as we thought we would be doing, Jan and I walked some more, eking out every last minute of this final landing, before finally catching the last Zodiac. It's never enough!
Back aboard the Corinthian II, we headed toward open sea and the Drake Channel, headed north, back to Ushuaia. Our Captain has a hard to pronounce Russian name, so he was known simply as Captain Boris. Here he is, ready to head the Corinthian II back to South America, leaving this beautiful white continent behind... click the photo to see the full size... it's a good one!
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