Today was the southern solstice—the longest day of the year in Antarctica. Suiting that longest day would be a full day of many varied activities. The morning started with a Zodiac cruise around Brown Bluff. Besides the wonderful views of the bluff itself, there is a large colony of Adélie penguins to see. Afterward, National Geographic Explorer set sail into the Weddell Sea in hopes of visiting and landing at, Devil Island. But along the way we realized our sister ship, National Geographic Orion was nearby, and we decided to swing by and say hello. The heavy ice conditions that the Weddell Sea is known for were kind to us and we were able to reach Devil Island. Upon landing, we went hiking and visited another Adélie penguin colony. Any normal day this would have been a full day, but in honor of the longest day, we decided that after dinner we would park Explorer in fast ice and enjoy some hiking on the ice.
2/28/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
Northbound Drake Passage, Cape Horn, and the Beagle Channel
This morning, we had a later start than usual after a late night enjoying the crew show. Our galley team gifted us with a fulfilling brunch. We then had a brilliant forum about climate change with the participation of our panel of experts onboard. Afterward, our expedition leader called us to the bow to see Cape Horn, which was only a few miles ahead. The good weather allowed us to have a smooth and fast crossing, allowing extra time to swing by Cape Horn, the most southern tip of the Americas. Over the PA system, Steven provided a very interesting description of the historical importance of this area, then Pablo read a beautiful poem, a memorial to the seaman lost at sea. We could see the monument in the distance, two metal sheets that depict an albatross in flight. During the afternoon, we enjoyed Madalena’s presentation about Women in Antarctica. This was an incredible voyage through the struggles and delays of allowing women to participate in science and logistics in Antarctica. We entered the Beagle Channel around 17:00 and we encountered black-browed albatrosses, cormorants, dolphins, and whales. On our final approach to the beautiful city of Ushuaia, we passed by Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and some of the seals that live in the Bridges Islands Archipelago.
