Leaving the sheltered waters off the western Antarctic Peninsula, National Geographic Explorer fared the Drake Passage once again. Valentine’s Day celebrations took on a range of forms today—for some it was savoring eggs Benedict or sending sweet treats from across the globe, while others spent the day in bed in a much less romantic way (coping with the motion of the ocean). Despite the rolling waves, we prepared for arriving in Ushuaia, shared photos from a spectacular trip, and attended presentations given throughout the day. One of our naturalists, Dr. Rodolfo Werner, spoke about his efforts working to establish marine protected areas throughout Antarctic waters. In the afternoon, two of our globetrotting naturalists discussed exploration in Antarctica: Carl Eric Kilander highlighted the adventures of Roald Amundsen’s career as a polar explorer and Tom Ritchie shared some noteworthy tales of Lindblad’s own trailblazing endeavors.
2/28/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
Northbound Drake Passage, Cape Horn, and the Beagle Channel
This morning, we had a later start than usual after a late night enjoying the crew show. Our galley team gifted us with a fulfilling brunch. We then had a brilliant forum about climate change with the participation of our panel of experts onboard. Afterward, our expedition leader called us to the bow to see Cape Horn, which was only a few miles ahead. The good weather allowed us to have a smooth and fast crossing, allowing extra time to swing by Cape Horn, the most southern tip of the Americas. Over the PA system, Steven provided a very interesting description of the historical importance of this area, then Pablo read a beautiful poem, a memorial to the seaman lost at sea. We could see the monument in the distance, two metal sheets that depict an albatross in flight. During the afternoon, we enjoyed Madalena’s presentation about Women in Antarctica. This was an incredible voyage through the struggles and delays of allowing women to participate in science and logistics in Antarctica. We entered the Beagle Channel around 17:00 and we encountered black-browed albatrosses, cormorants, dolphins, and whales. On our final approach to the beautiful city of Ushuaia, we passed by Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and some of the seals that live in the Bridges Islands Archipelago.