Traveling Tolins 2

  Cape Horn A Cape can be defined as a large, raised landmass that extends into an ocean, river, or lake. These narrow coastal landforms are formed by glacial action, erosion, or by the movement of ocean currents. For several years, capes have been used as significant navigational landmarks by the sailors. Map of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn. Located on Hornos Island, Cape Horn is the southernmost steep, rocky headland of the  Tierra del Fuego Archipelago  in the southern part of  Chile .  Cape Horn marks the meeting point of the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, as well as the northernmost edge of the Drake Passage. Cape Horn forms a part of the Cabo de Hornos Commune and is administered as a part of the Magallanes y Antártica Chilena region.  The Cape is situated in Cabo de Hornos National Park, which is also the world’s southernmost national park. Due to its southern location, the Cape Horn region experiences a windy and cool climate throughout the year...

The volcanic, geothermally heated Paulet Island Paulet Island is located off the northeastern end of the Antarctic Peninsula, lying 2.8 miles southeast of  Dundee Island  and measuring 0.93 miles in diameter.  Made up of lava flows, Paulet Island features a cinder cone with a small summit crater.  The associated geothermal heat keeps Paulet Island free of ice in many places. We were to stop here to observe elephant seals.  Unfortunately, the visibility was too low to release the Zodiacs, so we headed for the Drake Passage toward Cape Horn on our way to dock at Ushuaia. More info:    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulet_Isl an d 

  Cuverville Island    Discovered by the Belgian Antarctic explorer Adrien de Gerlache, Cuverville Island got its name from J.M.A. Cavelier de Cuverville (1834–1912), who was a vice admiral of the French Navy. Cuverville Island is well-known for its great variety of wildlife and massive population of Gentoo penguins. It is estimated that there are 7,000 breeding pairs on the island, hence it being identified as an 'Important Bird Area'.  As well as these comical creatures, the Island is also home to several species of Antarctic seal, as well as an array of Antarctic birds, notably shags and Southern Giant petrels. A rocky dome dominates most of this small island, as well as the large patches of lichen and deep moss growing on the rocks, the only botanical species that can be found on the surface of Antarctica. More Info:  https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/peninsula/cuverville-island   We were greeted by penguins at the landing area.  No, t...

 Mikkelsen Harbour Mikkelsen Harbour  is a small  bay  indenting the south side of  Trinity Island  between Skottsberg Point and Borge Point, in the  Palmer Archipelago , Antarctica.  It provides excellent anchorage for ships and was frequently used by sealing vessels in the first half of the nineteenth century and by Norwegian whaling vessels at the beginning of the twentieth century.   It  was discovered by the  Swedish Antarctic Expedition  of 1901–04.  The origin of the name comes from Peder Michelsen, a whaling manager who was lost in the whaling grounds in December 1910.  The harbour was charted by Captain Hans Borge.  Apparently the name was in common usage by 1913, at the time of the geologic reconnaissance by Scottish geologist  David Ferguson  in the whale-catcher  Hanka . Mikkelsen Harbour is bordered to the west by Skottsberg Point, the southernmost point of Trinity Island. It was fir...