In the Steps of Explorers: Finding Antarctica

In the Steps of Explorers: Finding Antarctica
Adelie penguins leap into the ocean from Paulet Island. slowmotiongli/Shuterstsock
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I have never been to the moon, or any other planet beyond, of course, Earth. But I do know what it’s like to land on terra incognito, and enter a landscape that is—literally, mostly—unknown. To be surrounded by the alien.

When you steam south from Ushuaia, as most Antarctica-bound ships do, you have no idea and can’t even fathom, what lies ahead. The world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia is Patagonia-pretty. Colorful shops selling outdoor gear line an undulating Main Street. Restaurants along the waterfront do brisk business in crab leg dinners. Seen from the water, the whole place climbs a rise, backdropped by snow-capped mountains. There’s a famous Argentinian national park just nearby, for picnics and daylong hikes.

Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson
Author
Toronto-based writer Tim Johnson is always traveling in search of the next great story. Having visited 140 countries across all seven continents, he’s tracked lions on foot in Botswana, dug for dinosaur bones in Mongolia, and walked among a half-million penguins on South Georgia Island. He contributes to some of North America’s largest publications, including CNN Travel, Bloomberg, and The Globe and Mail.
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