By: Mark Rowe
Submitted: 2010-08-24 13:19:12 | Word Count: 667
Is a location without as many tourists still able to maintain its grandeur your kind of thing? Much satisfaction is gained from being the first one to reach a destination and so people travel to the ends of the earth. It is the plan of the sightseers from New Zealand and South America to converge in the icy continent of Antarctica.
The only people able to reach the continent found in 1820 were sealers, scientists, and some explorers. An ice blanket running at about 7,000 feet prevent as much traveling as possible even in a place the size of the United States and Mexico combined. Ships strong enough to deal with ice impact and sailing through stormy seas will be endured before you get there. Although they'll enjoy 24 hours of sunlight every day temperatures seldom get above freezing.
[ advertisement ]
Aside from being the first ones in the McMurdo Sound area, 2,000 miles south of and New Zealand, the 14 men and 12 women were also the first ones to reach the south of the Antarctic Circle. A long time ago was when British explorers settled here and faced unthinkable hardships and death and this now is the location of a US Navy facility which has 800 sailors and scientists. The south of the equator faces seasons in direct opposite of that in the Northern Hemisphere.
The only women to reach this place were two airline stewardesses who landed briefly in 1957. Enthusiasm was not a big part of the welcome these two women received from the Navymen at McMurdo Station. This is for the simple reason that the sailors did not favor any interruptions to their capacity not to look at women for so long.
The same lack of excitement from McMurdo personnel applies to the tourist ships that are to be expected come January and February. The civilian technicians, scientists, and sailors all agree that what they do here cannot be done by other people and this is why they were the ones chosen to go. The thought of tourists wandering around the place takes the edge off the adventure and romance of Antarctica. Some of the extra things include laundry, seasick pills, tips, and drinks while warm pants, mittens, a red parka, and kodachrome will be supplied for all trips.
From US Navy personnel to American scientists, these were the only people in Antarctica since 1955. Like America, there are nine other nations with their respective scientific stations here and on adjacent islands. For the Navy, what will the tourists do? They have no jurisdiction over the people that come here, says the commander of naval forces in Antarctica, for no territorial claim is present. Nevertheless, they can do what they want when it comes to their stations.
To get in, the people should be able to support themselves. A problem like this is easy to fix with a well equipped ship. Securing those on board means following some safety precautions. Standards for safety are met based on the travel agency's operational plan.
Wandering around the base here, tourists can see Antarctica's first nuclear power reactor, visit the ship's store or post exchange, attend services at the Chapel of the Snows, or have a few drinks at a number of enlisted men's clubs and an officers' club. Other than hikers, the group also comes with bird watchers and conservationists, and so the possible activities they may be engaging in include searching for penguin rookeries and places where seals, skua gulls, and killer whales stay in not to mention exploring several of the huts left by early explorers.
Author Resource:-
If you're looking to learn about polar cruises, visit their site for more details.When you would like to get more information on artic cruise check out this site.
