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Antarctica Ecotourism:
Green Travel to the
White Continent
Icy, Dicey, and Spectacular
Antarctica ecotourism is an entirely different green travel experience than any other place you have been on this earth. Situated in the Southern Ocean, covering the South Pole, Antarctica is the southernmost, coldest, driest, windiest continent (the fifth largest continent by area), and 98% of it is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, averaging 1 mile in thickness. Ironically, since most of the precipitation on the Antarctic are on its coasts, its interior is technically the largest desert in the world. Temperatures inland drop to -112 and -130 degrees Fahrenheit and rise to a balmy 45-59 degrees Fahrenheit on the coasts in summer.
Given the extreme wintry climate and the glacial landscape, flora and fauna are not extensive. Its native inhabitants are a variety of penguins (Emperor, King, Rockhopper, Chinstrap, and Gentoo), fur seals, leopard seals, whales, and albatrosses. Overfishing in the Antarctic waters continues to be a problem despite conservation measures. The Patagonian toothfish, as an example, is passed off in foreign markets as Chilean Sea Bass and is illegally fished to the tune of over 30,000 tons a year.
Human inhabitants here and on surrounding islands are scientists from various nations conducting research, and populations flux between 4,000 in summer and 1,000 in winter.
The Antarctic belongs to no country and has no government since it has no native and permanent human inhabitants. The Antarctic Treaty, signed by 12 nations in 1959 and now by 45 nations, designates the Antarctic as a scientific preserve, an area with no military activity, no nuclear waste disposal, no mineral mining, and a protected ecozone.
Antarctica Ecotourism: Getting There
Most ecotravelers reach the Antarctic by ship. Expedition tourism to the white continent began in the late 1950s, but has escalated to close to 40,000 per summer and is predicted to double by 2010. Such increases in tourists raises concerns about protecting the environment and the ecosystems, so it is of the utmost importance that if you choose to explore Antarctica Ecotourism, you take extra care in selecting your expedition operator--make sure they are as ecosensitive as you can find.
The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) promotes environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. Their guidelines include making sure no more than 100 ecotourists are ashore in one place at any given time, and requesting that tour companies submit an initial environmental assessment to make sure they adhere to rules and regulations, which include no food or smoking ashore, no waste ashore south of a certain point, and maintaining a 15-foot distance from any wildlife.
Most often, sailing to the Antarctic requires navigation through the Drake Passage, the extremely turbulent section of ocean where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans merge south of Cape Horn, the southern tip of South America. The Drake is known as being the roughest section of ocean in the world. Besides navigating icebergs, sudden and extreme wind and wave shifts can occur, causing even the most modern ships and seasoned captains a white-knuckle experience. Remember, you are truly adventuring... bring seasickness antidotes!
Ecotravel Antarctica Packing Essentials
• One thing you don't have to bring much of is money. There is nothing to spend it on on the continent.
• Because of the extreme sun exposure with its reflection off the ice, bring wraparound sunglasses and a neckband to keep them from falling off your neck. Bring a backup pair of sunglasses as you shouldn't go outside without eye protection.
• Bring sunblock for your face and any exposed skin.
• Wear a facemask that covers your ears to protect you from windburn and sunburn.
• Gloves and glove liners.
• Skin lotion and lip moisturizer, as the air is exceptionally arid and you will want to keep your skin hydrated.
• Winter coat (water proof or water resistant and wind resistant) with a high collar to protect your neck.
• Think about dressing in layers... snowsuits and one-piece winter-wear are not as flexible when you need to remove or add layers.
• Sealable plastic bags. When you drop something, it will be onto snow and ice. Bags will protect your camera, wallet, and miscellaneous items you may drop.
• Waterproof winter boots (preferably those that rise over your ankles) that have good traction on their soles.
Intrigued by Antarctica Ecotourism? Check out Chile Ecotourism, since it's in the neighborhood.
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