A benign entree to Antarctic odysseys
STEPHEN SCOURFIELD travels to icy realms and finds unexpected connections with WA
Ushuaia perches on the fingertip of South America, where it points to Antarctica. It feels like the end of the Earth, and in many ways, it is.
For, though home to 80,000 people and the traditional land of indigenous people, Ushuaia is the world’s most southerly port and the launching point for Antarctic cruise expedition ships.
Most will head south, taking two days to cross the Drake Passage, then spend six days along the Antarctic Peninsula, and two back, to complete a 10-day voyage.
They will see whales, seals and Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins after crossing the Southern Ocean — the windiest, wildest and most productive ocean on Earth.
But before that, they have a benign entree.
For we leave Ushuaia and head first into the Beagle Channel, which is where some of the first evening passes.
It is named for the British ship Beagle, which arrived here in January 1833, during its maiden voyage, to survey Tierra del Fuego.
And here begin a number of connections to WA, both obvious and inconspicuous...
This is an edited version of the original, full-length story, which you can read here.
A message from Travel Editor Stephen Scourfield...
Thanks for reading us – we value your continuing interest and our connection with you.
But as our readers increasingly move to digital, we have to keep up with them.
As I’m sure you’ll appreciate, there are costs involved in doing what we do for you.
To support Travel, reading the full story now requires a digital subscription (it’s $1 a day for full access to thewest.com.au, for all your devices).
If you have the newspaper home delivered, you may already have complimentary premium access to thewest.com.au and our digital editions.
And we have other packages, including $9 a week for the weekend papers and everyday digital.
Stephen Scourfield
Categories
You may also like
Cruising Guide 2021/22
Travel Editor STEPHEN SCOURFIELD tests the waters in our safe and sensible guide to ocean cruising for 2021/22 and beyond.
More Australians taking out travel insurance
Survey reveals travel insurance an increasing priority for Australian travellers
Golly and Ted's excellent adventure
Casey’s tales spurred readers into writing about episodes with their special friends