Antarctica
The size of the United States and Europe combined, the seventh continent is the world’s largest wilderness, still mysterious and full of secrets despite over a hundred years of exploration by the likes of Amundsen, Scott, Byrd and Shackleton.
Its vast ice-covered expanses may seem inhospitable, but during the brief austral summer, this is home to some of the most amazing wildlife spectacles on earth. Millions of penguins and sea birds come here to raise their young, five species of seal crowd the beaches and ice floes, whales and dolphins thrive on the rich plankton and marine life below the surface.
Landscapes range from Rubenesque ice floes to serrated peaks scratching the sky, rocky beaches to smooth hillsides covered in pumpkin-colored lichens. And with the almost constant daylight, watching the wildlife and scenery is an around-the-clock opportunity.
For those adventurous souls who follow the path less traveled, Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands offer untold rewards.
South Georgia Island
Stunningly rugged and beautiful, this island wildlife sanctuary is an oasis in the stormy southern seas. Its snow-covered peaks, calving glaciers and milky seafoam-green bays are breathtaking, and while there are no permanent human residents, the island is home to a plethora of sea and land birds, seals and reindeer. Of all the sights, though, perhaps the most overwhelming is the hundreds of thousands of regal king penguins nesting shoulder to shoulder like so many yellow bow-tied maitre d’s.
The Falkland Islands
Picture the rolling moors of Ireland, Scotland and Wales and you have an idea of the wild Falklands landscape. Rocky headlands drop abruptly into the sea, sharp mountains jut up out of the velvet hills. This is the favorite breeding ground of the endangered black-browed albatross, known locally as the mollymawk. Nearly 400,000 pairs nest here — more than two thirds of the world’s population. These striking birds with their distinctive eyebrows nest on the tops of cliffs or steep slopes, often sharing their territory with rockhopper penguins.
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