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Why Visit?
To visit one of the worlds great geographic features, get deep into the Antarctic sea ice and get as far south as possible on the Antarctic peninsula.
Where is it?
66o33’69” – you are most likely to cross the Circle well away from land in deep water.
Challenges?
Ice conditions at the Circle are often at the extreme range of what is possible for the ice-strengthened vessels that operate in the peninsula region. The number of ships, and the dates which they can attempt this crossing, is quite limited.
Geography
The Antarctic Circle is really only a theoretical line on a map, or a reading on a global positioning system (GPS), unless seen on the solstice, when the sun stays above, or below, the horizon. The polar circles move because the earth wobbles slightly on its axis. Right now, the Antarctic Circle is at 66°33’39”S, and heading further south.
Ships that make the run south to the Circle normally do so through Crystal Sound, named by Britain in 1960, because most nearby places were called after researchers studying ice crystals. It is a good region for ice—even when north of the Lemaire Channel is still quite warm, the Antarctic Circle may be distinctly colder, and late in the season, some pancake ice may exist when there is not even frazil or grease ice forming to the north.
Wildlife
Whales, including Humpback, Minke and Orcas, Crabeater, Weddell, Leopard and Fur seals and Adelie and Gentoo penguins are all regular visitors to the region.
Human activities
There are very few human visitors to the region.
Photos, Voting and more coming soon!