Table of Contents
How bad is crossing the Drake Passage?
The Drake Passage can experience up to 15m swells and winds reaching Beaufort scale 10 (hurricanes are scale 12) at its peak. Most Antarctica cruise ships have stabilizers to reduce these rough sea conditions, but it is needless to say these will not stop the effects of Drake Passage sea sickness.
Can you swim in the Drake Passage?
They can swim for days but tend to dive only in the upper few hundred feet of sea. As waters warm, more adaptable penguins are pushing in.
Do you have to cross the Drake Passage to get to Antarctica?
To get to Antarctica, you have to cross the infamous Drake Passage. A trip to Antarctica is on many travellers’ bucket lists. But an expedition to the icy southern continent comes with its own set of challenges — and we don’t mean choosing which parka to pack.
How did the opening of the Drake Passage impact Antarctica?
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists have discovered that 30-50 million years ago, South America and Antarctica split apart very rapidly. This formed the Drake Passage and resulted in a major global cooling. The effect was to cut Antarctica off from warm southward flowing currents leaving it frozen and desolate.
What is the roughest sea in the world?
Irminger Sea, between southern Greenland & Iceland The Irminger Sea is situated south of the Denmark Strait which separates Iceland from the east coast of Greenland by 250 miles of rough water. It is thought to be the windiest stretch of salt water on the globe and one of the stormiest places in the world.
Can you sail yourself to Antarctica?
You can get to Antarctica by boat or plane. Sailing the Drake Passage from the tip of South America to the Antarctic Peninsula takes 48 hours. Flying to Antarctica takes 2 hours. Approximately 54,000 visitors make the journey each year, with around 50 expedition vessels sailing Antarctic waters each season.
Is there really a South Pole?
The South Pole is the southernmost point on the Earth. Its latitude is 90 degrees south, and all lines of longitude meet there (as well as at the North Pole, on the opposite end of the Earth). The South Pole is located on Antarctica, one of the Earth’s seven continents.
How did the opening of the Drake Passage change marine communities?
Importance in physical oceanography. The presence of the Drake Passage allows the three main ocean basins (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian) to be connected via the Antarctic Circumpolar current, the strongest oceanic current, with an estimated transport of 100–150 Sv (Sverdrups, million m3/s).
How many ships have sunk in the Drake Passage?
The demographics of the Drake The Drake Passage has been described as having the roughest seas in the world; 20,000 sailors have lost their lives there and its waters hold more than 800 shipwrecks.
What is it like to cross the Drake’s Passage?
Since we have returned from Antarctica we have been asked dozens of times, “What is it like crossing the Drake’s Passage? ” The short answer: Not as bad as you think. Today the crossing is far less treacherous compared to the early days of exploration, thanks to advanced ship construction and modern satellite and weather monitoring technologies.
Is the Drake Passage the roughest sea in the world?
The Drake Passage, the stretch of water between the southernmost tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica has the notorious reputation of being the roughest seas in the world.
How long does it take to get to Antarctica by sea?
Though the Drake Passage is situated in one of the most remote parts of the world, it is one of the primary ways to reach Antarctica. In general, the journey takes approximately 36 hours from Ushuaia, Argentina (the southernmost city in the world). Around 75,000 people per year journey to Antarctica via sea voyage.
Is it dangerous to go to Antarctica?
Yes, the seas can be rough. And yes, some people get sea sick. But no, it is not scary or dangerous anymore. We are running a very exclusive small-group expedition to Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands in 2022!