Touring to each the Arctic and Antarctic at all times felt like a dream the place you journey to the ends of the Earth to witness nature at its wildest. The Arctic, with its ice sheets, glaciers, and considerable wildlife, is paradise for photographers like me, whereas Antarctica’s countless snowfields and towering icebergs evoke a sense of profound isolation and awe. However past the fun of journey, these locations supply a deeper connection to the planet’s magnificence and ever-changing ecosystems.
I launched into my first Arctic cruise to Svalbard, a distant Norwegian archipelago within the Arctic Ocean in 2023 with Aurora Expeditions, a small ship cruising firm that operates within the polar areas. Earlier this yr, I set sail once more to discover the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. At first look, the 2 areas seem as mirror photos—icy, distant, and filled with extremes. However regardless of their shared latitudes and frozen landscapes, every has distinct identities and presents distinctive views on our planet’s rawness and fragility.
Geography versus topography
Piotr Damski, an expedition information and Arctic professional with the corporate, suggests differentiating the 2 based mostly on geography and never simply topography. Antarctica is a continent surrounded by ocean, whereas the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land. Whereas towering, jagged mountains are indicative of Antarctica, the Arctic isn’t totally flat. Greenland, Baffin Island and Svalbard (generally known as Spitsbergen) all have dramatic peaks of their very own, however usually if you happen to’re seeing an enormous, frozen ocean with land on the horizon, it’s most likely the Arctic.
One other key distinction is crossing into the polar circles. Each mark latitudes the place the solar by no means units for no less than at some point a yr. Nonetheless, as a result of Antarctica is so huge, most cruise ships don’t attain the Antarctic Circle. In distinction, it’s simpler to enterprise contained in the Arctic Circle , the place the midnight solar illuminates the ice in midsummer.
By way of measurement Antarctica is bigger in landmass, whereas the Arctic has a better complete space together with ice-covered waters. Although poles aside (pun supposed), Antarctica is colder than the Arctic, with winter temperatures reaching -90 levels C (-130 levels F), whereas the Arctic stays milder with temperatures as little as -69 levels C (-92 levels F) as a result of ocean’s moderating impact.
Whaling within the polar areas
Whereas whaling has been round for hundreds of years, industrial whaling started as early because the seventeenth century. Whales had been hunted globally virtually to extinction. Whale oil fueled road lamps and lubricated machines in Europe, and their baleen was used for corsets and fishing rods.
As a result of the Arctic is surrounded by massive, populous continents, it’s no shock that early polar exploration, analysis, and industrial whaling took off there first. By the seventeenth century, whalers had already arrange store in Svalbard, rendering blubber into oil on-site and delivery it to Europe. When Arctic whale populations dwindled, whalers turned their sights south.
Not like the small, scattered Arctic whaling websites that left little hint, Antarctic operations had been huge industrial slaughterhouses. Within the early twentieth century, over 175,000 whales had been killed simply in South Georgia, a distant island within the South Atlantic. At Deception Island, a former whaling station, rusting equipment and scattered bones on black volcanic sand are haunting reminders of this historical past. Experiencing it first-hand made me replicate on how a lot of the world’s previous stays frozen in time, ready to be uncovered.
Exploration and science
For hundreds of years, the poles have been on the forefront of exploration. Antarctic explorations began within the late 18th century. Between 1897 and 1922, the “Heroic Age of Polar Exploration,” 17 main expeditions contributed to scientific discoveries on its ecology. The race to the South Pole had a transparent winner with Roald Amundsen reaching it first in 1911, beating Sir Robert Falcon Scott by 5 weeks. Right this moment, Antarctica hosts 70 analysis stations from international locations together with Argentina, Chile, Nice Britain, and the U.S. supporting each year-round and summer-only analysis.
In distinction, Arctic exploration dates to the Historical Greeks, intensifying within the fifteenth century with the seek for new commerce routes. The race to the North Pole was equally dramatic, with Frederick Prepare dinner (1908), Robert Peary (1909), and even Roald Amundsen (1926) all having disputed claims about being first. Not like Antarctica, the place expeditions left everlasting markers, the Arctic’s shifting sea ice makes historic claims troublesome to confirm.
Polar wildlife
For vacationers, the most effective wildlife encounters are usually on the outer islands like South Georgia and South Shetland in Antarctica and Svalbard within the Arctic relatively than the mainland as a result of wildlife thrives close to nutrient-rich waters.
The Arctic is residence to polar bears, whereas Antarctica’s most well-known residents are penguins however every area hosts seals, whales and seabirds uniquely tailored to those excessive environments. In Antarctica, huge southern elephant seals take middle stage whereas within the Arctic, it’s the walrus. The wandering albatross, with the world’s largest wingspan, glides over the Southern Ocean, whereas the north is residence to puffins which I discover to be some of the charming birds I’ve ever seen.
And whereas polar bears roam the Arctic, Antarctica has its personal prime predator, the leopard seal. Not like the playful seals most individuals image, these animals are smooth, quick and extremely clever hunters. They’re the closest factor Antarctica has to a polar bear by way of sheer dominance. And naturally, each have many alternative species of whales. On the finish of the day, wildlife is likely one of the greatest highlights of any polar journey.
A traveler’s perspective
I had an unimaginable time in each areas, and touring with Aurora Expeditions made it each thrilling and academic, with expert-led lectures and hands-on citizen science initiatives offering beneficial insights into every.
Within the Arctic, the fun of navigating sea ice and the richness of wildlife made it extra spectacular than I anticipated. The animals share house with Indigenous communities which have lived right here for hundreds of years to allow them to generally be troublesome to identify. I keep in mind watching a polar bear hunt on the ice, then settle in for a nap, whereas an opportunistic Arctic fox stole scraps of meat earlier than dashing off. The chance to expertise the midnight solar and, if timed proper, the northern lights, added one other magical layer to an Arctic cruise.
That stated, Antarctica is equally particular. At first look, its huge, inhospitable terrain evokes a way of silence. However when you tune in, you notice simply how loud the underside of the world actually is. The blows and whistles of humpback whales combine with the raucous squabble of penguins, solely to be shattered by the thunderous crack of calving glaciers. In the meantime, in sheltered coves, ice floes bob rhythmically within the present, making a mesmerizing soundscape.
The wildlife in Antarctica can be remarkably daring. At Recess Cove, curious humpback whales swam round our ship, their blows, tail slaps and spy hops including a playfulness within the air. At Petermann Island, a energetic welcome get together of chinstrap, gentoo, and Adelie penguins enthusiastically greeted us. And in Lindblad Cove, huge icebergs dwarfed our ship, making these within the Arctic appear modest.
I beloved the thought of being “bi-polar” in the absolute best method and appreciating the distinctive classes they each supply. As melting sea ice and rising temperatures quickly remodel each poles, environmentalist John Sawhill’s phrases tackle new urgency: “A society is outlined not solely by what it creates, however by what it refuses to destroy.”
Picture courtesy of Karthika Gupta www.culturallyours.com
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