The beauty of the bay was very evident as we explored from our zodiac. The texture and shapes of the glacial ice where it met the sea captured our attention, as did the icebergs that were shaped and eroded by the constant motion of the ocean water.
We also saw small groups of Crabeater seals that had hauled out onto some pack ice and passed by an active Shag rookery. Paradise Bay was definitely not a misnomer.
Blue-Eyed Shags do not actually have a blue eye, but rather a thin ring of blue feathers that surrounds their eye. They also have a characteristic yellow patch at the base of their beaks.
The Shags build sturdy nests of grass and seaweed that are plastered together with mud and excrement. They maintain the nests year round as a home base.
To top off our afternoon in Paradise, we pulled up next to a zodiac with the ship's expedition director and she surprised everyone by handing out glasses of Champagne.
Lemarie Channel, which is about seven miles long and just under a mile wide, has been nicknamed "Kodak Gap" because it is so photogenic. Steep cliffs surround the channel with numerous glaciers cascading down to the sea. There are also lots of icebergs and the area is a popular hangout for whales.
Glaciers are made up of fallen snow that over time compresses into ice. As a result of its bulk and the pull of gravity, these large masses of ice flow like very slow rivers.
In the Lemarie Channel, there were numerous glaciers hanging on cliffs and spilling off the continent into the ocean. Everywhere we looked the view was amazing.
Low clouds began to blow in across the peaks surrounding the channel and, even in this harsh environment, all was at peace.
We moved very slowly through the channel and crew were stationed around the ship on the lookout for smaller icebergs that the radar could not pick up. Lots of icebergs had calved off of the surrounding glaciers and were all around us in the ocean.
We saw another ship making its way through the channel and a small pod of Orcas were swimming nearby. In spite of the cold, I stayed up on deck enjoying the scenery until we finished passing through the channel.
The habitats in Antarctica are unique and the organisms that have adapted to living in this harsh environment could very easily have their existence threatened by the introduction of new non-native species that will compete for the limited space and resources found here.
Strict measures were taken to protect the environment by sterilizing boots, clothing, and other gear each time we left the ship and as we returned from each excursion. Velcro closures were a major culprit that constantly picked up grasses and had to be carefully monitored and cleaned before and after each excursion. Hopefully, the beauty of this amazing environment will remain pristine for future generations to enjoy.
Petermann Island is a small round island and about half of the island is permanently covered in ice. The island, which is just over a mile long and about three-fourths of a mile wide, has a rocky coastline and pebbled beaches.
As we were preparing to head ashore on the zodiacs, a small group of Humpback whales popped up right near our ship.
