Feb 6th, 2011 at 9:00AM: Who could have guessed that Antarctica – the world's driest desert, where typically it barely snows during the summer months and the sun pounds down with nearly 24/7 predictability from November through February – that this season solar power would be proving a bust.
A Korean snowmobile expedition, hoping to reach the South Pole by machine using batteries charged by the sun, has ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
antarctica posts
Robots in Antarctica? Closer than you think!
Feb 6th, 2011 at 9:00AM: Who could have guessed that Antarctica – the world's driest desert, where typically it barely snows during the summer months and the sun pounds down with nearly 24/7 predictability from November through February – that this season solar power would be proving a bust.
A Korean snowmobile expedition, hoping to reach the South Pole by machine using batteries charged by the sun, has ...Whale Wars continue -- despite Wikileaks
Feb 4th, 2011 at 8:00AM: That the Sea Shepherd's and Japanese whalers are skirmishing again -- a recent tête-à-tête included the sling shotting of stink bombs (by the Shepherds) and false attempts to ram (by the Japanese) -- the bigger news was the Wikileaks release of conversations between representatives of the U.S. government and their Japanese counterparts about how to shutdown the increasingly ...Breaking: Antarctic tourist ship "Polar Star" on the rocks
Feb 1st, 2011 at 10:15AM: The Antarctic tourist ship "Polar Star" is apparently stable after striking "an uncharted" rock off Detaille Island yesterday, several hundred miles down the Antarctic Peninsula. According to Captain Jacke Majer and a press release from the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) the ship's outer hull was breeched.
Though free of the rock and reporting no oil leak, its ...Skier sets South Pole speed record
Jan 23rd, 2011 at 8:00AM: Norwegian explorer Christian Eide has set a new speed record for traveling to the South Pole on skis, smashing the previous record by more than two weeks and setting a new standard for Antarctic expeditions to follow.
Eide set out from Hercules Inlet, located along the Antarctic coast, on December 20th of last year and proceeded due south towards the Pole, a journey of more than 700 miles. ...Travelers stranded in Punta Arenas, Chile due to strikes, road blocks
Jan 18th, 2011 at 9:00AM: Thousands of travelers were left stranded in Punta Arenas, Chile over the past few days due to protests, general strikes, and road blocks throughout the region. Unrest exploded in the area late last week when the Chilean government announced plans to raise the price of fuel by 17%, which caused riots in the street and closed off traffic both in and out of the city. Strikes and protests were also ...Bowermaster's Adventures: Antarctica by pickup truck?
Jan 13th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
Given my longstanding affection for all-things Antarctica -- especially its exploration and a desire to educate as many people as possible about the remote seventh continent – a couple end-of-the-year stories have given me pause.
Motorized vehicles are not brand new to the bottom of the globe. Robert Falcon Scott took turn-of-the-century pickup trucks on his 1911 attempt to be the ...Photo of the day (01.07.11)
Jan 7th, 2011 at 6:00PM:
An iceberg seems like the perfect image for today, at least from where I'm sitting in Brooklyn, NY, as I watch snow flurries float down every which way against the backdrop of a brick building. It's winter, basically. Why fight it? This gorgeously detailed image of an Antarctic iceberg was taken by Gadling Flickr pool user SummitVoice1.
Got an image that showcases the majesty of cold ...16-year old girl climbing tallest mountain in Antarctica
Jan 7th, 2011 at 8:00AM: While most girls her age are more concerned about which boys will be asking them out this weekend, Crina Popescu has loftier goals in mind. The 16-year old Romanina girl is currently in Antarctica, where she is climbing Mt. Vinson, the tallest mountain on that continent. If successful, she hopes to go to Everest in the spring and take a shot at becoming the youngest woman to complete the Seven ...British team sets new speed record for Antarctic crossing
Dec 27th, 2010 at 8:00AM: In late November, a group of British adventurers and scientists set off on a mission to the interior of the Antarctic continent in specially designed research vehicles. Their plan was to undertake several environmental research experiments while journeying through one of the most in hospitable environments on the planet, but they also managed to set a new speed record for an Antarctic crossing at ...South Pole scientists activate IceCube neutrino observatory
Dec 26th, 2010 at 11:00AM: The South Pole may be as geographically far away from Santa's home as is possible, but that didn't prevent Christmas from coming early to the scientific base that is located there. Last week, researchers completed construction of the IceCube Project, which has been five years in the making and promises an unprecidented look into the very nature of the cosmos.
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory ...Quark Expeditions offers $1500 airfare credit for Antarctic travelers
Dec 13th, 2010 at 8:00AM: The Antarctic travel season is now officially in full swing, with cruise ships carrying adventurous travelers across the Southern Ocean and around the Antarctic coastline. For many, a journey to the bottom of the planet is the trip of a lifetime and very high on the list of "must see" places. But a trip to the frozen continent can also be a prohibitively expensive one, which is why Quark ...Update on Antarctic cruise ship Clelia II
Dec 9th, 2010 at 8:30AM: Yesterday we posted a story about an Antarctic cruise ship, named Clelia II, that ran into trouble when it reportedly lost an engine while crossing the legendary Drake Passage on its way back to Ushuaia, Argentina. To make matters worse, the weather was incredibly bad, with 30 foot waves crashing against the vessel, adding even more of a challenge to completing repairs and continuing the journey. ...Antarctic cruise ship runs into trouble in Southern Ocean
Dec 8th, 2010 at 8:30AM: Another Antarctic cruise ship ran into trouble yesterday while crossing the treacherous Drake Passage on its return voyage to Ushuaia, Argentina from the Antarctic Peninsula. The Clelia II suffered engine failure that left it adrift in the Southern Ocean for a time while the region's notoriously bad weather pounded the vessel.
According to this report from Gadling's very own Jon Bowermaster, ...Worlds most expensive beer made from Antarctic ice
Dec 3rd, 2010 at 8:00AM: Australian beer maker Nail Brewing revealed the secret behind its latest ale, which set a new record for the most expensive beer ever produced when it was sold at auction last month. The new limited edition brew, which was produced and sold for charity, was made from melted Antarctic ice.
Dubbed Antarctic Nail Ale, the beer first went on the auction block to raise money for the Sea Sheperd ...2012 Antarctic expedition to visit Scott's final resting place
Dec 1st, 2010 at 8:30AM: British polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott is amongst the most tragic of all 20th century historical figures. In an era where exploration was a matter of national pride, he spent a significant portion of his life attempting to become the first person to reach the South Pole. And when he did finally make it to that place, he found that he had been beaten, by just a few weeks, by his Norwegian rival ...British explorer to ski to South Pole and back again
Nov 15th, 2010 at 8:00AM: British adventurer Chris Foot is currently in Punta Arenas, Chile, preparing to set out on a long and difficult journey that will see him traveling on skis to the South Pole. That, in and of itself, is an impressive feat, but one that has done plenty of times in the past. But upon arrival at the Pole Chris intends to separate himself from the explorers who have gone before him, by turning around ...IAATO explains climate change for Antarctic travelers
Nov 10th, 2010 at 8:30AM: The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) continues to be a great source of information and education for travelers heading south to the frozen continent. Last week we told you about their efforts to keep the sailors aboard private yachts, well informed of the issues involved with navigating the Antarctic waters, helping to make the region even safer for travel. But beyond ...Antarctic tour operators offer tips for independent sailors
Nov 4th, 2010 at 8:30AM: The Antarctic tourism season is just getting underway and travelers the world over are preparing to make the journey to the bottom of the planet where they'll be treated to one of the most remote and untouched destinations on Earth. The vast majority of those travelers will book their visit with a travel company and will end up cruising the Southern Ocean aboard a ship that is specially designed ...Visit the South Pole with Abercrombie & Kent
Aug 30th, 2010 at 8:00AM: In January of 1909, the famous British explorer Ernest Shackleton made an attempt to become the first man to reach the South Pole. He, and his three companions struggled mightily against the elements, but eventually were turned back just 97 miles short of their goal. That expedition established a new record for the furthest distance traveled south, and upon his safe return home to England, ...Lindblad Expeditions announces upcoming Global Luminaries
Aug 17th, 2010 at 8:00AM: Lindblad Expeditions has earned itself a reputation as one of the top adventure travel companies on the planet, offering a wide variety of options for travelers to visit the far flung corners of the globe. The company is well known for having some of the best trained and most knowledgeable staff in the entire industry, offering clients great insights into the places that they visit. But their ...
