Antarctica – The Ice Kingdom, Cruises To The Antarctica
Antarctica – The Ice Kingdom, Cruises To The Antarctica
We want to show you the breathtaking natural splendor of this amazing continent, but you can also read our article to find the best Antarctic cruises. Antarctica is the planet’s southernmost continent, and it is home to the South Pole. In everyday conversation, it is commonly associated with the Antarctic, which is its location. Other names for it include the southern continent and the Antarctic continent. Nearly the whole land area of Antarctica, which is approximately 14 million square kilometers, is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet. West Antarctica and East Antarctica are separated from one another geographically.
The long-suspected existence of an undiscovered southern continent was dubbed Terra Australis, or “southern land”. Following the 17th and 18th century discoveries of the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia by Abel Tasman and James Cook, its possible location was limited to the high southern latitudes.
However, the severe weather and pack ice in the Southern Ocean made it difficult to explore this location for a considerable amount of time. It was not until the end of the 1800s that it was discovered that the core of the southern polar region, after which Antarctica was named, truly consisted of land the size of a continent.
Antarctica ice sheet
The most visible feature of the Antarctic continent is its virtually complete state of frozenness. Earth’s largest ice sheet is the Antarctic ice sheet. Ninety percent of the world’s ice and seventy percent of its freshwater resources are found in the ice sheet, which may reach a thickness of 4500 meters. Greenland is currently the only place on Earth with an equally large area of ice.
When Antarctica’s ice sheet formed a few million years ago, it collapsed due to the immense weight of the ice masses in the earth’s crust. When the ice melts, it is expected that the earth will rise once more. If it melted completely at that same moment, the water level would rise by over 61 meters.
The rise in sea level resulting from ice melt is taken into consideration in this isostatic land elevation map of Antarctica without ice. It offers an insight into what Antarctica looked like 35 million years ago, before the enormous ice sheets formed. Since most of Antarctica’s land area is covered by freshwater ice, the area is acknowledged as a part of the continent. Since much of Antarctica is covered in ice up to sea level, even if a significant section of it is below sea level, it is still considered to be a part of the continent.
Without the ice cover, the shape of the continent would not match what is usually pictured. The three primary areas that form West Antarctica are the Antarctic Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land, and the Vinson Massif. East Antarctica would be a land mass beneath the South Pole, with massive bays and fjords, like those at what is currently Amery Glacier and Wilkes Subglacial Basin. The East Antarctic land mass is dotted with many lakes and inland seas, some of whose bottoms extend deep below sea level.
Lakes under the ice
Photo Source : OanaAlexandra on canva.com
Antarctic lakes known as subglacial lakes contain liquid water beneath the ice. Most of these are made of fresh water. Lake Vostok shown in a radar photograph acquired from orbit (RADARSAT-1). The ice in the lake feels silky to the touch. To date, more than 150 subglacial lakes have been found. The largest of these is Lake Vostok, which was discovered in 1996 using satellite imagery near the Russian Vostok station. It is around 250 kilometers long and 50 kilometers wide, and it is situated 3700–4100 meters below the ice’s surface. It can go down to a maximum of 1200 meters in the water.
The high pressure of roughly 30 to 40 megapascals beneath the ice cover is the reason the lake has not frozen despite its average temperature of -3 °C. This is because the melting point of ice reduces at high pressure. Antarctica also contains hypersaline lakes like Lake Don Juan, which has a salinity of more than 40%, and lakes with partially frozen surfaces all year round like Lake Fryxell.
Rivers
Photo Source : OanaAlexandra on canva.com
Another peculiar aspect of the Antarctic’s terrain is the complete lack of surface rivers. The 30-kilometer-long Onyx is a meltwater river that only flows in the late summer months of February and March. It is the longest river in Antarctica. In 2006, it was ascertained that the subglacial lakes are believed to be connected by a system of subglacial rivers, and that water transfer and pressure equalization take place between them. The subglacial rivers have portions that are both above and below sea level. The 1911 red blood cases were traced to the iron-rich hypersaline water from a subglacial lake.
Antarctic oases
Photo Source : OanaAlexandra on canva.com
Huge regions of Antarctica that are essentially devoid of ice are known as Antarctic oasis. The largest oases in Antarctica are found in the parched valleys of Victoria Land. Often found in stony Antarctic oasis are freshwater pools. These locations allow for the investigation of Antarctic wildlife and plants. They are also essential for the discovery of fossils.
Glacier in Antarctica
Photo Source : OanaAlexandra on canva.com
The Antarctic ice sheets are steadily moving closer to the coast of the Southern Ocean. There are locations where the ice moves far more quickly than in the surrounding areas. These are known as the ice rivers. They stand for a distinct kind of glacier. The ice streams can extend several hundred kilometers in length, several hundred kilometers in width, two kilometers in height, and up to a thousand meters per year in velocity.
Shear pressures cause the ice to soften and distort along the edges of the ice streams. Numerous fissures emerge there. Most glaciers are found in Antarctica, albeit not all of them are ice rivers. Where ice streams meet the ocean, glacier tongues—also referred to as “ice tongues”—can reach fairly far into the water.
Flora and fauna
Photo Source : OanaAlexandra on canva.com
The huge pack-ice zone that encircles Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, and the outlying islands are teeming with life, yet the heart of the continent is empty and barren, lacking in higher evolved forms of life. Rather, in these areas, lichens, mosses, and microorganisms—along with a few invertebrates—predominate. But these ecosystems are different on Earth. Despite the extreme natural conditions, the area remains mostly untouched by human activities due to the former.
A fascinating but incredibly simple ecology, dominated by mosses, lichens, microorganisms, and a few animals, can be found in the arid valleys surrounding the McMurdo station. Because of their rarity, it is possible to thoroughly study their relationships with one another as well as how they have adapted to difficult settings.
Surprisingly, it was revealed that life can exist not only in the few ice-free regions but also in unexpected places. In the dry valleys, for example, lichens and algae found within sandstone rocks have been found. Despite the vastness of the Antarctic ice sheet, a variety of algae and other organisms have been found in minor ice fissures and meltwater lakes on the glaciers.
Book your perfect vacation!
Vacations: We are happy that we have the opportunity to work with the most famous companies in the world, we always order our vacations from these companies and we have never been disappointed: Check 24, Trivago, Trafalgar, TravelUp, Insight Vacations, Explorer Fernreisen.
Where to stay
Hotels, bed & breakfasts, and guesthouses, regardless of location—in the center of town, close to a lake, or amid natural surroundings. We were able to identify the top companies providing the best hotels: Booking.com, Trip.com, TravelUp, esky, Hoteltopia, Millennium Hotels and Explorer Fernreisen.
Book your tours!
Tours: If you do not go by car and need to know more information about the tours, and things to see, we recommend these companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!
Viator, Get Your Guide, Tiqets, City Sightseeing, Sesame, Sightseeing Pass, Contiki, Riviera Travel, CityPass: the best activities in town!
Book tour Flights!
If you have not found your desired flight, or you simply want more flight options to find the best and cheapest, we will help you with the best flight plans, where you will definitely find what you are looking for. With just one click you will find the cheapest flights to a wonderful destination!
Book your Cruise to the Antarctica!
Leading cruise review website Cruise Critic is home to the world’s largest cruise community. Every month, over six million people visit Cruise Critic to plan and study their voyages, network with other cruisers, and share their love of cruising—from novices to ardent enthusiasts. last-minute cruise sales, last-minute cruise arrangements, and last-minute offers Critic of Cruises Cruise Critic offers more than 350,000 cruise reviews and information from our team of cruise experts on anything from selecting a ship to organizing your time in port, all with the goal of assisting customers in finding the perfect voyage.
Here you can find the best offers for luxury cruises, or cheap cruise offers. We went on a cruise in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman and we can only recommend this unforgettable experience, not just here, but around the world!
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a type of insurance designed to cover the costs and losses associated with traveling. It serves as a safeguard for travelers in case of unexpected events. Here are the main types and key components of travel insurance: Trip Cancellation,Medical Insurance,Baggage Insurance, Travel Delay Insurance, Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance, Accidental Death , Rental Car Insurance:
Order your Luggage!
Choosing the right travel luggage can make your journey more comfortable and hassle-free. Here are the best offers to help you select the best travel luggage for your needs:
If you want to create your own WordPress blog, Elementor is the best website builder! Enjoy your cupon today :
