Page 103 - MILA'S TRAVELOGUE - ANTARTICA

Before I went to sleep last night, I looked out to see that in the dark,
the sky look different than in any other part of the world. The crescent-
shaped moon looked like it was just skimming the top of the water, DAY 10 DECEPTION ISLAND
the other celestial bodies which adorned the dark sky were so much
brighter and sharper and arranged in a different position than I’m used FEB. 28, 2019
to. They looked upside down. I wish I could capture them in photos to
share with you all, but i don’t have a good camera for such absolutely
awesome night sky. Telefon and Walker Bays are in Deception Island
in the South Shetland Islands Archipelago. It is
considered to have the safest harbours in Antartica.
This island is the caldera of an active volcano
which seriously damaged local scientific stations
in 1967 and 1969. This island previously held a
whaling station but it is now a tourist destination
and scientific outposts, with Argentine and Spain’s
research bases. While various countries have
asserted sovereignty, it is still administered under
the Antarctic Treaty System.

The center of the island is a caldera formed in a
huge eruption which has been flooded by the sea
to form a large bay, now called Port Foster, which
is about 5.6 mile long and 3.7 mile wide. The bay
has a narrow entrance, just 750 feet wide, called
Neptune’s Bellows. Adding to the hazard is Ravin
Rock, which lies 8 feet below the water in the
middle of the channel. We had to wake up early in
the morning as the sun was slowly rising to witness
our ship going through the channel. It was so windy
and cold in the observation deck that I only stayed
less than two minutes outside to take photos.

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