Page 66 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Explore the Earth

More than wildlife

Antarctic Ice Marathon
This extreme event takes place on Union
Glacier, a part of the Antarctic mainland
accessible only by air, at an altitude of 700
metres (2,300 feet). In 2016 and 2017, the
marathon will be on 24 November.

Deception Island
This horseshoe-shaped island is actually
an active volcano. The water is heated by
underground activity and at the boundary with
the Antarctic waters, tourists can take a dip.

Port Lockroy
Port Lockroy is a natural harbour on Goudier
Island, home to gentoo penguins and the
Antarctic’s busiest post office. Around 70,000
cards are posted from here each summer.

Home of the penguins

While the Arctic is famous for its polar bears, the Antarctic
is known for its penguins; five of the 17 species make their
nests on the mainland or its surrounding islands. The harsh
King George Island
This northerly Antarctic island has more environment near to Earth’s southernmost point can make the
evidence of human civilisation than most other Antarctic a hostile place to raise young chicks, but these black
locations. It has a school, a church, and a post and white birds have made the rocky shores their home.
office, as well as places for aircraˆ to land. There are no land-based predators to worry about on the
Antarctic mainland, and in certain areas the weather is mild
enough to support large penguin colonies. One of the main
hotspots is the Antarctic Peninsula, which is home to gentoo,
chinstrap and macaroni penguins. The two other species, the
little Adelie penguin and the emperor penguin, are hardier, and
are able to make their nests away from this protected spot.
Emperor penguins are the largest species, standing at more
than a metre (3.3 feet) tall, and they are able to withstand
the most extreme of conditions. They are the only species of
Zodiac cruise penguin to breed during the Antarctic winter, coming on to
Take a ride in a Zodiac for a chance to the thick pack ice to lay and incubate their eggs. There are no
experience the Antarctic ice up close. These nesting materials available, so the male balances the egg on his
small boats can get closer to the action than
larger ships. feet, keeping the developing chick away from the ice.

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