eGlobal Education

Sea Ice, Ice Floes, More Ice 

Blocked by sea ice

We have just turned around for the second time in 12 hours because of dense sea ice that blocked our way.  Last night, we spent about 8 hours reversing our course to head back to Elephant Island, around it’s long north side, and south again in the open ocean.  

Crabeater Seal



This morning, about 3 a.m., the ship shook as it scraped a sizeable iceberg.  The sun was already up, so I peered out our windows to see an ocean of ice.  We continued moving forward until about 4:30 a.m., when I went up on deck to take pictures of this remarkable (for me) and beautiful sight.  Soon after, we turned around again and are now headed NW around King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, back to the open sea.  We had planned a hike on Pigeon Island this morning, but now hope to do that late this afternoon.  Alternatively, we’ll do a short hike on Deception Island, a horseshoe-shaped island that is the crater of a still active volcano. 

 



Huge iceberg

I thought you might enjoy some of my photos of the sea ice and several of the huge icebergs we are passing.  The seal on one floe is a crabeater seal, the most plentiful seal in these waters.  The penguins are Adelie Penguins.

  

Adelie Penguins on ice floe

King George Island, South Shetland Islands