Antarctica: description of the continent and its attractions. The main attractions of Antarctica There are seven Christian churches on the continent

Today we present to you an article on the topic: “attractions of Antarctica” with full description where to go and what to see. We also offer interesting comments from travelers.

Antarctica became the last, sixth continent discovered by man. For a long time, there were only theoretical conclusions that the southern continent existed, and only the Russian expedition of Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev in January 1820 first reached the ice of Antarctica. Today, this corner of the Earth attracts romantics and researchers from all over the world, and we will try to highlight the most beautiful places and attractions of Antarctica.

Let's start with the main thing, namely the conventional point of intersection of the earth's axis with the surface of our wonderful planet. It is located among the beautiful Polar Plateau, at an altitude of 2.8 thousand meters above sea level.

The first to reach this point on Earth was the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and members of his expedition. This happened in 1911. Subsequently, a tradition arose of leaving here the flag of the country whose expedition reached the South Pole.

The ice thickness on the plateau near the South Pole is 2,840 meters, and the lowest air temperature was recorded at −82 °C. And somewhere nearby is the Pole of Inaccessibility in Antarctica, the point farthest from the coast of the Southern Ocean.

Anyone who travels to Antarctica from the Atlantic is greeted by Bouvet Island, which has the honor of being named after the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bouvet. It was this romantic and navigator who set off in the 18th century in search of a tropical paradise.

He never found paradise, but he did find a deserted land completely covered in fog. Bouvet Island was explored only a century and a half after its discovery.

The landscapes and nature of one of the islands farthest from the continents are no different from Antarctica. It is also covered with ice, has a volcano in the center, and almost no vegetation. The only inhabitants are penguins and seals.

Off the iceberg-filled Atlantic coast lies the white expanse of Dronning Maud Land, named after the Queen of Norway. These uninhabited lands were claimed by Germany, but in 1939 they came under the jurisdiction of Norway.

In the 30s, the Nazis were looking for an entrance to other dimensions here, and under the ice they wanted to build “ New Berlin" Now vast areas are used for scientific research.

In 2005, Queen Sonja attended the opening of the Norwegian Troll station, thus becoming the first royal to visit Antarctica.

When considering the volcanoes of Antarctica, it is necessary to mention the active stratovolcano Melbourne, whose height is 2,732 m. You can see its white slopes and peak from Ross Island and the Terror shield volcano.

During the study, photographs of the crater were taken, with the help of which it was possible to establish that the volcano was active until 1750, and now is a time of relative calm.

There are active fumaroles in the crater, and at the very top there is a polar station and a helipad.

If you look at Antarctica from above, you can clearly see a bloody stain on the white blanket. This is the so-called “Bloody Falls”, which is water flows of varying intensity flowing from the Taylor Glacier.

Due to the high content of iron oxide, the water turned red, creating such an unusual miracle of nature. There is an underground lake in the glacier itself, and due to the high salt content, the water in amazing lake remains liquid at −10 °C

The Bloody Waterfall in Antarctica, and the microorganisms living in it, lead scientists to conclude that there are extraterrestrial life forms with similar conditions to the waterfall and the underground lake.

There is a landmark in Antarctica that attracts tourists and researchers. In 2012, a yacht with the beautiful and romantic name “Endless Sea” sank in Ardley Bay.

The yacht went to the shores of the Southern continent to film documentary about the nature and animals living on the continent, but was sandwiched by ice and eventually sank. Transparent waters allow you to see the hull of the yacht, and the icy deck creates a special natural special effect.

The yacht has become a kind of visible symbol of the inaccessibility and danger of the southernmost tip globe, because how many ships that tried to reach the ice of Antarctica rest on the bottom of the world's oceans.

The Vinson Massif is comfortably located 1,200 kilometers from the South Pole, and is part of mountain system Ellsworth, which is considered the highest on the continent.

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It stretches for 21 km, and the most high point is located at an altitude of 4,982 m above sea level. The array was discovered by American pilots in 1957. It was named in honor of Carl Vinson, a well-known political figure in the United States.

It should be noted that Vinson Peak is part of the world mountaineering project “Seven Summits”, which includes the most high peaks on six continents of the planet.

And on the pages of our most-beauty.ru you can also learn about twelve highest peaks planets.

The existence of a subglacial lake near the Soviet Vostok station was predicted back in the early 50s by Andrei Kapitsa, a city of the last century. But it was officially discovered by Russian polar explorers only in 1996.

Attempts were made to reach the surface of the lake by drilling, but work was stopped at a distance of 120 m. But a deep well remained, but the main reason for the stop was the substantiation of the problem of water pollution in a unique reservoir, and, consequently, disruption of the ecosystem.

Lake Vostok in Antarctica, according to scientists, is a conserved ecosystem with living organisms from the Proterozoic period, which is no less than 700-580 million years ago.

The lake with such an intriguing name was discovered by two helicopter pilots in 1961, and in 1977, after measuring the area, it was mapped topographic maps. This is the saltiest body of water on the surface of the Earth. The salt content in it is exactly 40%. For comparison, the salinity of the Dead Sea is 33.7%, and the salinity of the World Ocean is 3.5%.

The total surface of the lake is decreasing, as is its depth. At the time of discovery, the depth was 0.3 m, and today it does not exceed 0.1 m. Scientists, having examined the reservoir, confirmed that this is the place where groundwater reaches the surface of the ice.

Another interesting point. The water was found to contain high levels of nitrous oxide, which is produced only by living organisms. But, interestingly, there are no living organisms in the waters of the lake.

Literally, the name of this unique island is translated as “deception”, “scam”. It was discovered during an expedition in 1820, and this unusual name given to him by Nathaniel Palmer.

One of the versions says that the sailors could not dock in any way, since the island was constantly hiding in the fog, which is why they called it the Island of Deception. There is an active volcano on it, the activity of which was especially strong in the 17th-18th centuries.

If we consider the vegetation of the island, then this is a unique phenomenon for Antarctica, since more than 16 species of rare plants grow on its surface, which are not found anywhere else on the planet. This flora and fauna of the island is due to its geothermal activity. In some places of Deception, tourists can safely swim in the waters of hot springs.

The Antarctic desert is full of mysterious mysteries, and despite such a repulsive name, it is a land of magnificent landscapes. Especially beautiful views open in the area of ​​dry valleys.

This is a series of snowless valleys that have not seen snow or rain for more than 2 million years, and are rightfully considered the driest place on our planet. According to one version, they were formed as a result strong winds, which sometimes blow here at speeds of more than 300 km/h. Some explain the occurrence of this phenomenon by high radiation or volcanic activity.

Surface and natural conditions in this place are close to the nature of Mars, because the Americans tested their spacecraft here, which were then sent to the Red Planet. It is surprising that sometimes the air temperature in such oases rises above 20°C, although it is usually 2-6° higher than the temperature in the region.

It also passes through the largest strait on the planet, named after the pirate Her Royal Highness Francis Drake. The length of the strait is 820 km, and it connects the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

In the southern part of the strait you can encounter icebergs that move in east direction, and pose a great danger to research vessels.

This volcano, named after one of the ships of the English expedition of Sir James Clark Ross, is today the southernmost of all active volcanoes Earth. As you can see, both the ship and the volcano received the name of the ancient Greek god born from Chaos.

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The volcano was discovered in 1820, but the first ascent to its crater took place in 1908. Since then, research has been constantly carried out on it, showing that the volcano was most active in the medieval period, and woke up again in the early 70s of the last century.

A tragic story is also connected with Erebus, when a New Zealand airliner crashed into the side of a mountain. Victims major plane crash There were 257 passengers and crew members.

Paradise Bay on the coast of Antarctica is the most visited place on the Southern continent.

Skillfully and carefully maneuvering between icebergs, the liners enter a magnificent harbor, from which you can admire the beauty of the Arctic nature, which is said at arm's length. Landings on the shore are not provided, but the white landscapes of the mainland and the ice sparkling in the sun are especially beautiful from the water.

The warmest month on the southern continent is January, so it is during this period that cruise excursions become more active to explore the majestic expanses of Antarctica.

In the post-war period, it was decided that the mainland is a demilitarized zone, therefore Antarctica is without weapons and is used only for scientific research purposes.

Despite the distance from the most important transport routes, Antarctica is visited annually by 30 to 50 thousand tourists. On the continent, which is completely covered with ice, there is a tourist base and a special airfield for servicing tourist routes. But the most common type of tourism here is cruise trips around the majestic and inaccessible white shores of the Southern continent.

Antarctica: description of the continent and its attractions

Antarctica is the most southern point globe. This continent is washed by the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. His geographical coordinates located between latitude 630 south and longitude 570 west. There is also a cape called Sifra. On the northern side, the continent intersects the Arctic Circle several times. The closest country located near Antarctica is Chile.

This is the highest continent on earth, average height which stays at 2000 meters. Its high height is due to a thick layer of ice. Everyone knows Antarctica as the coldest continent on the planet.

In winter, the air temperature drops to -90 degrees, and in summer the figure does not exceed -20 degrees. There is no rain here, since precipitation is represented exclusively by snow. Big square The continent is an icy desert. Some elements of life are found only close to the coast.

The only representatives of the flora here are lichens, mosses and algae. Speaking of fauna, it is worth noting that seals, penguins and whales can be found here.

Despite the fact that the object is not subject to any state in the world, there are many research stations located on it.

Every year the continent welcomes about tens of thousands of tourists, and this flow increases every year. Antarctica itself, interesting facts and sights – this is what attracts curious people. Everyone strives to visit the deserted and mysterious continent in order to:

Travel organizers offer their clients:

1. Diving to explore the underwater world and observe unusual white-blooded fish.
2. Kayaking exploring icebergs and glaciers by boat from the sea.
3. Mountaineering - in the form of climbing the Antarctic peaks.
4. Camping and skiing, photo tours.

Despite the harsh climate conditions, there are interesting places in Antarctica that attract the attention of tourists.

Whalers Church

Famous place in Antarctica. The building was built in neo-Gothic style in 1913 near the whaling station. The church was functional, however, it was restored in 1998. Since then, it has practically ceased to be used, but was preserved as a monument for posterity.

Holy Trinity Church

Unusual structure of the Southern Continent. The church was erected in 2003-2004 on Waterloo Island near the Bellingshausen polar station. The architects came up with an unusual fastening method. Six chains were stretched in the temple to securely fix it, and this fact has been proven. During heavy winds, the Chilean station was left without a roof, but this church in Antarctica survived. The people who worked at the station came out at night to see if the temple stood. It was not demolished because the chains were embedded in the foundation and stretched through the entire temple.

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Catholic Church

This temple is located in a cave made of ice at an Arctic research base called Belgrano. Among all world religions, this temple is the “coldest”.

Lemaire Strait

This is one of the most attractive places in Antarctica. For a long time, cruise ships have dropped off tourists for a picnic near the two peaks of Unas Tits. The support towers rise high above the sea, and the tops of the slopes are covered with snow.

The strait was opened in 1873. The German traveler Eduard Dalman put it on the map. A few years later, in 1898, Adrien de Guerpache swam through the strait. He gave it the name in honor of his Belgian colleague Charles Lemaire.

The strait attracts with its charm, and tourists who have taken millions of photos here never tire of admiring its beauty. All travelers try to return here more than once to capture these moments again.

Deception Island

In Antarctica, the islands are a unique attraction. In the distant past, Deception Island was an Antarctic volcano. It is possible that eruptions will still occur, but the last ones were in 1967 - 1970.

The island is home to about eight types of birds, including chinstrap penguins. There is also vegetation here that has not been seen before in the Arctic regions. Hunters have always been interested in the island part of the continent. People set foot on this land around 1820, and then stations for scientific and observational work were built here. Most of them were later destroyed by volcanic lava.

The shape of the island is similar to a horseshoe. This is a unique oceanic site where ships are allowed to sail to study nature and volcanoes.

Queen Maud's Land

The area on the Atlantic coast was named after a Norwegian queen named Maud. At first, Germany filed claims to its ownership, however, since 1939, a “Norwegian sector” was formed here, and it was managed by the Minister of Trade of Oslo.

Today, the territory is used for the purposes of science and research, and therefore there are several research stations on it. Queen Maud Land is popular among expedition groups.

Bloody Falls

An extraordinary place Antarctica, which is a blood-red stream of water that falls out of a glacier. Water flows out of a lake covered with four hundred meters of ice. Thanks to the high salt concentration, the lake does not freeze even at -10 degrees.

This source was found by geologist Taylor, and the glacier was later named in his honor. Initially, the descriptions explained that the unusual color of the water appeared due to a large amount of rust. In addition, scientists have proven the presence of microorganisms that take part in the formation of iron oxides in water.

Desert among the ice

The dry land of Antarctica is hidden surrounded by frozen water. The dry McMurdo Valley has not seen rainfall for many years. The land cover here is freed from the shell of ice. The valley is covered with sand frozen to the state of stone.

The speed of the raging wind here reaches 320 km/h. The climate conditions in the valleys are close to those on Mars, and therefore they are often used by astronauts for pre-flight preparation. Unknown species of bacteria were found in one of the local lakes.

Dry Valleys are included in the first three positions on the list of attractions in Antarctica. Any diving guide describes these places as they are considered a treasure trove for those who love to explore the underwater world.

Sunken yacht

The sea transport, called the Endless Sea, was wrecked in 2012 in Ardley Bay. Not far from there is the Russian Bellingshausen station. The yacht was involved in the filming of a documentary about the natural delights of Antarctica, however, it got stuck in the ice.

The crew was evacuated immediately, and therefore there were no casualties. This yacht was used for educational and scientific expeditions.

At the beginning of 2013, the transport was raised from the bottom of the bay, and now the yacht is being repaired and preparing for new expeditions.

Emperor penguin colony

This species of animal is considered the largest in the penguin family. Many penguins are found in the southern part of the continent.

The emperor penguin was first discovered by Bellingshausen in 1822. The work of Robert Scott was of considerable importance in the study of the species. His team went to Cape Evans in 1913 and found penguin eggs there. This had a beneficial effect on the study of animal embryonic development.

The cold and empty continent is completely unsuitable for life. Much of its area is represented by snowy deserts. However, there are small oases where the continental relief protrudes from under the ice layer. This is where mammals and penguins live.

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Almost 195 years ago, Antarctica was discovered by an expedition led by Bellingshausen and Lazarev. Despite the harsh climate, this continent attracts adventurers and beautiful scenery. Today we will talk about the most beautiful places in Antarctica.

Probably no one will doubt that the most famous natural attraction of Antarctica are icebergs. The most interesting place where you can observe ice blocks in all their glory is Paradise Harbor - a corner that gives birth to icebergs. This tourist-favorite area hosts “Zodiac cruises” that allow you to see the icy mountains at arm's length. No less picturesque is the Alley of Icebergs, where powerful northern giants sail from the Bellingshausen Sea, and where entire armies of emperor penguins are based. Massive ice mountains, consisting of fresh water, are 9/10 hidden under water, revealing only a tiny part of the bizarre natural structures to the human eye. The largest iceberg with an area of ​​11 thousand square kilometers, called B15, separated from the ice of the Antarctic shelf in the millennium. Another giant with an area the size of Novosibirsk broke away quite recently - in 2013. According to scientists, the southern ice sheet contains more than 30 million cubic meters of ice, and its melting would lead to a rise in sea levels by as much as 100 meters.

The eleven-kilometer corridor separating Booth Island from the Kyiv Peninsula (yes, it is named after the Ukrainian capital) is surrounded by picturesque icebergs of the most bizarre shapes and incredible shades of blue and on clear days represents Antarctica in miniature. The Lemaire Strait, discovered by the German traveler Dallman back in 1873, was not immediately conquered by brave researchers. Only at the very end of the 19th century was it explored by the Belgian Adrien de Gerlache, put on maps and named after Charles François Alexandre Lemaire, the Belgian explorer of the Congo. One of the most beautiful places himself southern continent The land is jokingly nicknamed the Kodak Gap, because as soon as the ships approach the strait, the polar silence is broken by the harmonious crackling sound that accompanies photography. Slowly and sedately ships sail along the dark water surface, strewn with crystal fragments pure ice. As if skyscrapers created by Mother Nature, the blue sky is cut by two black basalt rocks - the Peaks of Una, in the area of ​​which polar tourists receive memorable certificates of crossing the South Arctic Circle. Albatrosses and cormorants slowly soaring in the sky complete the picture of snowy serenity.

A little over a century ago, a geologist from Australia named Griffith Taylor, barely setting foot on the harsh lands of Antarctica, stumbled upon a hitherto unprecedented miracle. The impeccable whiteness of the southernmost snow in the world was trampled by red stains like blood. The scientist suggested that microscopic brown algae were to blame, although, as was later proven, the cause of this peculiar color of the water is iron oxide, which arises as a result of the vital activity of unique microorganisms. The frightening Bloody Falls originates in a remote lake, the level of salt in which is many times higher than the salinity of the waters of the World Ocean. It is still unknown what the size of the reservoir hidden under the Taylor Glacier is. It is assumed that the lake reaches a size of 4 square kilometers and is covered with a 400-meter “lid” of ice. No less surprising is the place where the ominous water cascade is located - the Dry Valleys, spread over an area of ​​8 thousand square kilometers west of McMurdo Sound. Due to the incredible wind force exceeding 320 km/h, there was no snow, no rain, or even fog here for several million years, which gave the mysterious desert the right to be considered the driest place on the planet.

The horseshoe-shaped “Santorini of Antarctica,” part of the South Shetland Islands, has been considered the most successful place for exploring Antarctica for decades. Despite frequent volcanic eruptions from the collapsed caldera called Neptune's Bellows, Deception Island Bay is recognized as one of the safest natural harbors in the world. The volcano still does not sleep - sometimes its eruptions cause a lot of harm to researchers. Deception (the English name of the island) is very popular among tourists thanks to the mineral waters of the Pendulum Bay - the same one that was built to study the Earth’s magnetic fields. At the same time, swimming here turns into a real extreme: only the top layer of water, a meter thick, is comfortable for a person, and if you splash around too actively, you can easily get burned by the boiling water gushing from the depths. Deception Island is also famous for the oldest ghost town in Antarctica - the fish factory base of the Norwegian-Chilean Whaling Company, abandoned during the Great Depression, as well as equally attractive abandoned scientific outposts that once belonged to Spain and Argentina.

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The most isolated and perhaps the harshest continent on the planet is Antarctica. Discovered by a Russian expedition in January 1820, this cold area attracts intrepid tourists and travelers with its brutal, pristine beauty. The entire territory of Antarctica is divided into Lands, named after their explorers, discoverers or fairly famous personalities (Queen Elizabeth Land, Wilkes Land, Palmer Land, etc.). The main part of the continent is constantly covered with glaciers, and only 40,000 square meters. km are free from ice cover.

The sights of Antarctica are not very diverse, however, this fact does not detract from the attractiveness of this region. Every year it is visited by those who are ready to experience all the surprises and delights of the capricious Antarctic weather. The majority of tourist groups prefer popular tours in the form of flights over the territory of Antarctica, because from above a truly amazing view opens up.

A popular destination in Antarctica is Paradise Harbour. Watching the huge blocks of centuries-old glaciers and icebergs from the boards of inflatable boats is a spectacular sight.

Number of people visiting the place

Far to the south, inside the southern polar circle, there is the most amazing, coldest and most dangerous continent on Earth - Antarctica. This is the least inhabited place in the world. In summer, there are only up to 5 thousand people on the entire vast area of ​​​​Antarctica, and in winter, when the polar night sets in and the temperature drops to -80C, no more than two thousand people remain on it. This spacious snowy territory, untouched by human activity, attracts every year more and more brave and wealthy tourists who are willing to pay up to 50 thousand dollars for a trip to Antarctica.

The territory of Antarctica and its surroundings

The continent of Antarctica consists of the largest part of Antarctica, the southern polar region, which, in addition to the mainland, includes sections of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. These cold waters are home to many ice-covered island archipelagos, relatively small icebergs and huge ice blocks that are constantly breaking off from Antarctica. The size of such pieces of ice can reach 25 kilometers in diameter. total area Antarctica is about 14 million square kilometers. It is difficult to calculate more precisely due to the constantly changing area of ​​the glacier covering the continent. The height of the continent above sea level is on average two to four kilometers (this is twice as high Ural mountains). The Antarctic Peninsula is a logical continuation of the South American Andes. The most high mountain on the mainland - Mount Vinson. Its height is 4892 meters. The territory of the continent of Antarctica cannot officially belong to any of the existing states. The closest country to Antarctica is Argentina. All trips to Antarctica begin here, in the southernmost city in the world - Ushuaia.

Although Antarctica, unlike the Arctic, is a real continent that consists of land, 99% of Antarctica's area is constantly covered by a thick layer of glacier. This great white cap contains 90% of all the world's ice and about 80% of the fresh water on planet Earth. For comparison, in the huge snowy Greenland there is 10 times less ice. And if the entire Antarctic glacier melted, the water level in the world's oceans would rise by 60 meters. In this case, many big cities around the world, like Amsterdam or New Orleans, would be under water. Quite a sad picture, isn't it? This is why scientists around the world are so persistently fighting global warming.

Since the continent of Antarctica is located in the southern hemisphere, winter here begins in early March, and summer lasts from September to February. The winter and summer seasons correspond to the polar night and polar day. With the beginning of winter, the sun sets below the horizon and does not come out for a whole six months. At this time, the temperature here drops to -60C. The lowest temperature in history was recorded here in 1983 and was -89.2C. In general, winter in Antarctica is cold and dreary. Only the most stern and persistent polar scientists can be here in such conditions. The weather on the shores of the mainland and in its center is very different. At the south pole, for example, calm, windless weather usually reigns, but closer to the shores a strong wind blows, capable of lifting a dog and carrying it far beyond the horizon. Fine snow dust, raised by such a wind, polishes metal objects to a mirror shine in a few days. If you're planning a trip to Antarctica, you should tune in to the peak summer season. In November, the sun shines here around the clock, and the temperature does not drop below -30C, which is quite common in our latitudes. Travel agencies offer different kinds recreation: from cruises on nearby oceans to flights on tourist planes, ski routes and trips inland to the South Pole. A trip to Antarctica could be an unforgettable journey, leaving vivid memories for life.

Since Antarctica is not inhabited by people, it is free from such nature-destroying aspects of our life as transport, construction, industry and war. This means that it is an ideal place for studying global climate processes. The mainland is fraught with much that is unknown. For example, there is Lake Vostok, which is under a huge layer of ice, 200 meters thick. Scientists are trying to take water samples from this lake in the hope of discovering previously unknown life forms that can survive in such harsh conditions. Currently, there are research stations of 16 countries on the continent. This continent is a peaceful and calm place. Any territorial claims, military actions and exercises are prohibited here. Scientists from each station help each other in research and coexist peacefully, scattered throughout Antarctica, at a considerable distance from each other.

This empty and cold continent is almost unsuitable for life. Most of it is a vast and deserted expanse of snow. But there are also tiny oases on it, located in those places where the rocky topography of the mainland protrudes from under a thick layer of ice. These oases are home to penguins and marine mammals: seals and several species of whales. A vegetable world represented by a few species of mosses and algae.

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Antarctica is the last vast wilderness on the planet. Its giant icebergs, ice-covered mountain ranges and emptiness of the polar plateaus evoke fear, while the temperature, winds and weather seem to advise against the risky journey to these harsh places. It is a place of extremes, beautiful and serene, wild and strong, and its scale is almost incomprehensible, whether the observer is on the ground of Antarctica (more likely on the ice) or viewing this continent from an airplane. Antarctica is the most isolated continent on the planet, and a trip to the polar south must still be carefully planned because it can only be achieved by a long and uncomfortable voyage on a passing ship or an expensive plane flight. Weather and ice, not clocks and calendars, set the schedule for travel here. Regardless of the reason for visiting, all people on the mainland are always and everywhere completely dependent on the vagaries of the weather.

And yet, more than 40 thousand tourists from all continents of the Earth visit these harsh places every year. They mainly come to this region to pass by sea around the planet's south pole, explore scientific bases, take unique photographs or take a trip on zodiacs (inflatable boats that are familiar to everyone from Cousteau's films) to the breathtaking natural attractions of the mainland. However, more and more more people travels for skiing or snowmobiling, trekking or diving in the shelf seas adjacent to Antarctica (diving under the ice of ice shelves or inland lakes is considered especially exotic). Currently, scuba diving, including night diving, is offered to suitably qualified tourists. Dives are conducted to depths of less than 39 meters and the diver must have at least 100 logged dives or a PADI rescue diver qualification or equivalent.

One of the excursions that can only be carried out here is a flight over the entire Antarctic (as the entire adjacent region is called, and not just the continent itself) on an airliner. Australian airline Qantas launched these flights in 1994, and they quickly became very popular. The comfortable Boeing 747-400 that carries the flight does not land on the continent, but offers breathtaking panoramic views of glaciers, icebergs and mountains. The plane does not fall below 3050 meters (610 meters above the high place suburban areas), and engines are reduced to less than a third of full power, reducing noise, pollution and ensuring Better conditions for observation from the windows (and from such a height, in the ultra-clean and dry Antarctic air, you can look out at up to 185 kilometers of space in all directions!).

Polar stations and research bases often serve as magnificent attractions in themselves - each of them is involuntarily turned by the staff into an exhibition of the country's scientific achievements and differences of national character. It is quite typical for any scientific complex in the region to have video rooms with scientific films and video reports on research; billiard rooms, which are usually decorated with all the imagination of which man is capable; libraries and even bars.

General concert evenings are quite common, and neighbors from scientific expeditions in other countries are often invited to them (if possible). Antarctic polar explorers have a clear penchant for clubs - there are at least 300 clubs with a wide variety of traditions. At the Amundsen-Scott base (USA) near the South Pole, for example, joining the club requires entering a sauna heated to +93 ° C and then immediately running around a marker that marks the pole point, while the temperature outside can reach up to -73°C. Wanda Swimming Club, on the New Zealand beach of the same name summer base, made up of those who were able to swim through the constantly ice-covered Lake Vanda and after that managed to independently (in the cold!) reach the base. Probably, every scientific town has its own chess club.

Lemaire Strait is a narrow channel between the Antarctic Peninsula on one side and Booth Island on the other. This is one of the most popular destinations for tourist cruise ships - breathtaking views with huge ice cliffs falling straight into the sea, sparkling ice walls of glaciers, waters teeming with wildlife and majestic panoramas of floating icebergs against the backdrop of the unique Antarctic sky are guaranteed. This is such a photogenic strait that the place has received the nickname Kodak Gap - according to the humorous calculations of polar explorers, at least 600 kilometers of photographic film are spent here every year on photographs.

At the northern end of the strait lies a picturesque pair of tall, rounded and often snow-capped peaks known as Unas Tits (Una's Tits) - favorite place landing tourist groups on land and holding various picnics. Many companies also award certificates for crossing the Antarctic Circle.

The unique Dry Valleys - Victoria, Master and Taylor - are unusual in that rain has not fallen there for at least two million years. They do not have any ice cover or snow because the air is too dry (areas not covered with ice are called oases in Antarctica), and according to many scientists, this is the driest place on the planet. The valleys are huge (about 3000 sq. km), deserted and were discovered by the famous Robert Scott in December 1903. He wrote about these places: We did not see any living creatures, not even moss or lichen... This is of course Valley of the Dead from Bible prophecies, even the largest glacier, which once crushed them with its weight, died far from here. Despite their harsh appearance and conditions, the valleys support some of the most extraordinary life forms on the planet. American biologists in 1978 discovered here algae, fungi and bacteria living inside the stones (!!). These stunningly ancient life forms grow in the air cavities of porous rocks and feed on the light, carbon dioxide and moisture that penetrates the surface of the rocks. The alien nature of the local landscape is emphasized by the bizarre forms of ventifacts rock sculpture, which abound in the area, replete with bizarre landscapes formed by the omnipresent wind. Scientists believe the Dry Valleys are the closest Earth equivalent to the surface of Mars, and NASA did a lot of research there before launching Viking to the Red Planet.

Deception Island, part of the South Shetland Islands, is called the Santorini of Antarctica. Its collapsed volcanic caldera Neptune's Fur, despite periodic volcanic eruptions, makes it one of the safest natural harbors in the world. Ships enter the relatively calm waters of the port of Forster (12 km wide) through a collapsed section of the caldera wall, which is surrounded by snow-capped hills up to 580 meters high. The island has interesting story- it was the base camp for several early exploration expeditions and is still the subject of dispute between Argentina and Britain. The volcano is still very active, and its eruptions have caused significant damage to scientific stations and whaling bases (during 1920-1921, the water in the harbor became so hot and saturated with the products of volcanic activity that it corroded the paint on the hulls of ships specially built for sailing in these harsh conditions). waters). The most recent eruption was in 1991-1992.

Tourist boats often come here specifically to organize a swim in the thermal and highly mineralized waters of Pendulum Bay (so named because of the British gravity pendulum built here specifically for experiments on Earth magnetism conducted in the last century). Here you should be very careful when swimming, because if you stir only the top layer of warm water (literally a meter!), you can severely burn your skin with hot or almost boiling water gushing from the bottom, or get slight frostbite from the icy water of a thermocline disturbed by too intense swimming movements. There are large colonies of penguins on the outer coast of the caldera, but few marine animals enter the harbor because the numerous volcanic springs and fumaroles heat the water too much and unevenly.

Zavidovsky Island in the South Sandwich Islands is one of the largest penguin colonies in the world, with approximately two million king penguins resident there. Bouvet Island (54°42 S, 03°37 E) is the most isolated island on Earth. The closest land to the island is more than 1,600 km to the northeast. Glaciers cover about 93% of the 54 square kilometers. km of the island and interfere with the landing on the southern and east coasts, while steep cliffs 490 meters high block access to the north, west and southwest. Between 1955 and 1958, a single low-lying lava site appeared on west coast Bouvet, providing a tiny nesting area for birds on the island. The island is rarely visited, but it is surrounded by many secrets and mysteries, and two events in its history are especially mysterious: first, in 1964, a lifeboat from a passing ship sank (by the way, the reason for its sinking is also unknown), and supplies of food and equipment from its board were discovered by rescuers in the center (!!) of the island untouched, but where the crew, who had such good means of survival, disappeared was never established. The second case is even more mysterious - in September 1979, a powerful explosion was recorded west of Bouvet, determined by scientists as a thermonuclear bomb explosion, but its source was not discovered, and not a single country has ever had nuclear devices, has not been observed sending similar devices into these waters.

Paradise Harbor, on the Antarctic Peninsula, is one of the most visited areas of Antarctica and is home to Zodiac cruises among the icebergs that spring from the glacier at the head of the harbour. Zodiac cruises have recently become a very popular type of holiday, as such regattas allow you to observe the life of Antarctic waters almost at arm's length. No landing on land is usually planned on these trips, but the glaciers and mountains look most beautiful from the water, and the serene nature and sea are the highlight for many visitors, which is why such cruises are gaining more and more popularity year after year.

The most isolated and perhaps the harshest continent on the planet is Antarctica. Discovered by a Russian expedition in January 1820, this cold area attracts intrepid tourists and travelers with its brutal, pristine beauty. The entire territory of Antarctica is divided into Lands, named after their explorers, discoverers or fairly famous personalities (Queen Elizabeth Land, Wilkes Land, Palmer Land, etc.). The main part of the continent is constantly covered with glaciers, and only 40,000 square meters. km are free from ice cover.

The sights of Antarctica are not very diverse, however, this fact does not detract from the attractiveness of this region. Every year it is visited by those who are ready to experience all the surprises and delights of the capricious Antarctic weather. The majority of tourist groups prefer popular tours in the form of flights over the territory of Antarctica, because a truly amazing view opens up from above.

Glaciers of Antarctica.

A popular destination in Antarctica is Paradise Harbour. Watching the huge blocks of centuries-old glaciers and icebergs from the boards of inflatable boats is a spectacular sight.

Islands of Antarctica.

There is a place in Antarctica that is of particular interest to volcanologists, hunters and travelers - Deception Island. It is an extinct volcano and has the shape of a horseshoe.

Bloody waterfall.

An unusual attraction for icy Antarctica is the Bloody Falls. Streams of red water with a high concentration of salts and iron oxide flow down the surface of the glacier, originating in one of the Antarctic lakes.

Whalers' Church.

Another famous place in Antarctica is the Whalers Church, built in the neo-Gothic style back in 1913 next to the whaling station. Despite its full functionality, after restoration in 1998 it is practically not used today, but has been preserved for posterity as a monument.

Mountains of Antarctica.

The Queen Maud group of mountain ranges rises 3 thousand meters above sea level. The system was discovered by the expedition of R. Amundsen, receiving the name in honor of the Norwegian Queen.

Drake Passage.

Drake Passage was named after the pirate sailor who sailed in this place in mid-1578. It is the deepest and widest strait in the world.

Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church, located in an ice cave, is located at the Belgrano Arctic research base. This is the “coldest” temple among all religions known on earth.

Penguins in Antarctica.

And, of course, the most important and beautiful attraction of Antarctica is the king penguins, without which it is impossible to imagine this region.

Despite the harshness of the continent of Antarctica, its attractions do not end there. Below you can find other interesting places, which are located in this cold region:

Antarctica is one of the most amazing places on the ground. Here night lasts six months a year, winter lasts nine. This is the only territory that does not belong to anyone: no government, no administrative and public institutions - nothing at all that we are used to in our country. Big Earth. Nothing but scientific research stations. This alone is worth visiting the sights of Antarctica.

But since traveling to the ends of the world will take a lot of time, and this pleasure is not cheap, it may be accessible to a very small number of people. However, this is not a reason to limit your curiosity and deny yourself the opportunity to explore the main attractions of Antarctica. Photos with names and descriptions will help you imagine this icy land as clearly as possible.

Location

Antarctica is translated from Greek as “a place opposite the Arctic.” It is located on South Pole and occupies an area almost 2 times larger than Australia, and one and a half times larger than Europe. In addition to the continent of Antarctica itself, it includes many adjacent islands: o. Peter I, Fr. Anvers, o. Adelaide, oh. Alexander, South Shetland Islands. Territories on the mainland are named after historical figures and discoverers: Macrobertson Land, Kemp Land, Princess Elizabeth Land, William Land and others.

Almost the entire area of ​​Antarctica is covered with ice, and only narrow sections of the coast and islands, peaks and ridges are free from ice cover. These ices contain 80% of the entire Earth's reserves.

Territory of science

In 1820, a Russian scientific expedition led by Lazarev and Bellingshausen discovered Antarctica, and since then, for almost two hundred years, scientists around the world have been continuously studying the continent. On December 1, 1959, a settlement agreement was adopted, according to which Antarctica is recognized as an exclusively scientific zone and cannot belong to any specific state. Scientists from the USA, Russia, China, Japan, Germany, and Chile are working on its territory. The greatest interest is in the search for new energy resources, which this land is rich in, according to researchers. In its depths there are rich deposits of oil, gas, coal and charcoal, as well as precious metals.

Weather

Antarctica can hardly be called a comfortable place to live - the air temperature here, even in summer, does not rise above 0, and in the winter months it can drop to -89 degrees. That is why there is no permanent population here.

The number of researchers living on the mainland ranges from 1,000 to winter time up to 4000 in summer. But there are regularly tourists eager to see the sights of Antarctica. The visiting season opens in November and ends in March - these are the months when summer begins on the mainland.

Kingdom of eternal ice

What attracts people from all over the world to this deserted, cold, windswept region? First of all, this is a special atmosphere: silence unusual for residents of a densely populated land, a spectacle of incredible beauty Northern Lights, majestic and harsh icebergs and unique animal world. The only place on Earth, where a person can directly approach cosmic energy is Antarctica.

Attractions that offer more to visit here active tourists, present the opportunity to go mountaineering, diving, kayaking (travelling on the sea and exploring glaciers on kayaks), skiing, and even camping is possible. There are special photo tours from which you can bring great amount unforgettable photos. Of course, if you want to see the sights of Antarctica, you will have to pay a considerable amount for it. A trip of 13-18 days will cost a minimum of $10,000.

Mostly tourists come here either for cruise ships, which depart from the coasts of South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia, or by plane from South Africa and Chile.

In the world of penguins and sea lions

The South Shetland Islands are, as a rule, the first thing Antarctica reveals to its guests. The sights of these places are literally breathtaking. They consist of 11 large and many small archipelagos. This is the warmest and wettest part of the continent. The animal world here is very diverse. Clumsy on the ground and incredibly graceful penguins, fur seals, overweight ones are found at every step. But the main interest is Deception Island (translated into Russian as “Island of Deception”). This dormant volcano, as a result of the eruption of which a large closed ring was formed.

You can even take a hot dip among thermal springs. Those interested can also visit one of the research stations dedicated to the study of penguins.

Desert among the ice

You will be surprised to find out what is hidden among the frozen water. The McMurdo Dry Valleys have not seen rainfall for many millions of years. The ground here is freed from the ice shell; it is covered with sand frozen to a stone state. The speed of the winds that rage here can reach 320 km per hour. Conditions in the three valleys - Victoria, Wright and Taylor - are as close as possible to the conditions on Mars, which astronauts use to prepare for flights. Unknown bacteria were discovered in one of the lakes, after which scientists for the first time were able to answer affirmatively the question: “Is there life on Mars?”

Dry valleys are included in the first positions of the list, which contains the attractions of Antarctica. You will find photos and descriptions of these places in any self-respecting diving guide, because the lakes located on their territory are a godsend for those who like to study the underwater world. However, getting under the ice layer is not so easy, because its thickness is about 3 meters. Experienced divers must use explosives before diving into the incredible world of flora and fauna.

Mysterious sights of Antarctica: Bloody Falls

On the territory of the Dry Valleys there is one of the most intriguing attractions - Bloody Falls. If your imagination has already painted a chilling picture in the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe, or you thought about an ancient legend with ancient spirits bathing in the blood of their victims, then, as always happens in reality, the reality is much more prosaic, but no less interesting. Although the sight is actually quite frightening.

If you decide to go sightseeing in Antarctica, you should definitely see Bloody Falls. They were discovered in 1911 by Griffith Taylor, an Australian explorer. He believed that the red color came from algae located at the bottom. However, further study showed that it’s all about the microorganisms that live in the lake. At a depth of 400 meters, deprived of the usual nutrients and sun, they have adapted to obtain everything they need from sulfites, which are rich in salty water. Sulfite is iron that oxidizes when interacting with oxygen, giving water a rusty color. This is a stunning example of how living organisms are able to adapt to survive in extreme conditions.

South Pole Guardian

What wonders do the sights of Antarctica reveal to us! Photos with the names of the main ones can be found on many resources dedicated to this ice-bound region. Be sure to check out one of the most mysterious - Erebus volcano. The composition of the lava it erupts differs significantly from the eruptions of other volcanoes located on the mainland. This is not its only difference. Actually, everything about him is unusual. First of all, Erebus never sleeps. Many volcanoes lie dormant for hundreds of years before spewing boiling lava from their depths, while Erebus is always active. Secondly, it has two craters - one inside the other. The temperature of the cooling magma, located in the deepest of them, reaches 900 degrees Celsius.

Travel lovers and those interested in natural wonders will appreciate the sights of Antarctica. Short description information given in this article can only arouse their curiosity and push them on a crazy expedition to this harsh and attractive region. It is not for nothing that the name of the continent is consonant with the mythical Atlantis - everything here is arranged completely differently from the rest of our Earth. It is full of mysteries and secrets, which nature generously scattered over its icy covers and safely hid under them.