Bottom Of The World With Janice November 2016

Tuesday December 13th 2016  

Port Lockroy Antarctica (Page Fourteen)

Port Lockroy is a natural harbor on the north-western shore of Wiencke Island in the Palmer Archipelago in front of the Antarctic Peninsula. But first, we pass through the beautiful Lemaine Channel.

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
The approach to Lemaine Channel was uneventful as we
sail by the Antarctic Peninsula

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Even some blue sky welcomed us

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Not a lot of people on deck as it was quite cold!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Not a lot of ice until we reach the channel

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Ice is begining to surround us

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
The bow simply pushes the ice aside as we plow through it

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
There were many inlets as we pass by the peninsula

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
It's 9:30 AM and time to go inside

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
A little Christmas decoration... To eat!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Complete with lights!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Our ship just kept moving forward

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Quite narrow at places and not open in the winter time

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Entering the channel... Hope it is wide enough

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
We just made it... The Captain did a great job!

Did You Know? - Lemaire Channel is a strait off Antarctica, between Kiev Peninsula in the mainland's Graham Land and Booth Island. Nicknamed "Kodak Gap" by some, it is one of the top tourist destinations in Antarctica; steep cliffs hem in the iceberg-filled passage, which is 11 km long and just 1,600 meters wide at its narrowest point.

It was first seen by the German expedition of 1873-74, but not traversed until December 1898, when the Belgica of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition passed through. Expedition leader Adrien de Gerlache named it for Charles Lemaire (1863-1925), a Belgian explorer of the Congo.

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Keep it on the straight and narrow

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Great view from inside the ship... and it is warm!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
We braved the outside (a few minutes at a time)

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Looks like the ice is not too bad!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Did we say we got close?

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
The outside observation deck was perfect... If we were a penguin!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
We are not moving too fast!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Into the boats we go!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Getting right up close

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
How do we know the iceberg is old?

Did You Know? - Blue icebergs develop from older, deep glaciers which have undergone tremendous pressure experienced for hundreds of years. The process releases and eliminates air that was originally caught in the ice by falling snow. Therefore, icebergs that have been formed from older glaciers have little internal air or reflective surfaces. When long wavelength light (i.e. red) from the sun hits the iceberg, it is absorbed, rather than reflected. The light transmitted or refracted through the ice returns as blue or blue-green. Older glaciers also reflect incident light preferentially at the short wavelength end of the spectrum (i.e. blue) due to Rayleigh scattering, much in the same way that makes the sky blue.

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Note: That is a reflection... 90% of the berg is underwater!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Our hands leave the gloves ONLY to take pictures

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Definitely an "E" ticket ride!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Do we look worried?

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
The old ice stands out against the new white ice!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Loading up and heading for home!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Goodbye old friends... You served us well!

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Does this mean we got the boot?

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Too much ice at Port Lockroy to get close

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Port Lockroy Museum on Goudier Island in the Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica. (Thank you unknown photographer)

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
See the three buildings on the island.. The
museum is closest to the shoreline

Did You Know? - It is one of the most popular tourist destinations for cruise-ship passengers in Antarctica. Proceeds from the small souvenir shop fund the maintenance of the site and other historic sites and monuments in Antarctica.

The Trust collects data for the British Antarctic Survey to observe the effect of tourism on penguins. Half the island is open to tourists, while the other half is reserved for penguins. A staff of four typically process 70,000 pieces of mail sent by 18,000 visitors that arrive during the five month Antarctic cruise season. A souvenir passport stamp is also offered to visitors.

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Food rations on display in the museum at Port Lockroy, Antarctic Peninsula.

Lemaine Channel and Port Lockroy 12/13/2016
Two Days At Sea And We Are Home (Page Fifteen)