Vernadsky Station (most southerly point) 65º15’ S 64º15’ W
Argentine Island 65º15’ S 64º16’ W
Camping
Yalour Island and Vernadsky Station
The Yalour Islands are a 1.5 mile long group of low lying islands in the South part of the Wilhlem Archipelago. The islands were discovered and named by Charcot’s French Antarctic expedition. Lt. Yalour was an officer on the Argentine ship Uruguay, which rescued member of the Swedish Antarctic expedition in November 1903. Nesting Adelie penguins and Skuas are known breeders here.
The Ukraine’s Akademik Vernadsky Station is located on Galindez island within the Argentine Islands. It was purchased from the British for a nominal price of one pound in 1996, as it was cheaper for them to sell the station that remove the buildings. As a British hut, Faraday base or Station F, was occupied continuously for 49 years between 1947 and 1996. Research conducted from this site focused on geophysics, meteorology and ionospherics. This is also where scientists first observed depletion in the ozone layer, known as the ozone hole. The Ukrainian scientists at Vernadsky are continuing this ozone research in addition to studies focusing on geomagnetism, meteorology and glaciology.
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Landing at Peterman island; saw adelie penguins, gentoo penguins, Weddell seals on the ice bergs, great formations of ice bergs.
After the lunch campers meetings, gear delivered.
Visit to Vernadsky Station and famous vodka bar; bought a drinks for the crew ($3 each, someone mentioned before like $1). Like in a real English pub, but no beer. Yulia, Boris and James had a blast with Ukraine’s staff. Boris and Alexy stayed overnight at the base (sauna and plunge at the ocean).
After the dinner landing at the Argentine Island, making a tent; went for a walk; real and dense snowing all night; went to sleeping bag after 12:30AM; sounds of snow flakes dropping at the tent. Fantastic feeling. Had a hard time falling asleep, just wanted to enjoy the vastness, and solitudes, space and time!
Wake up call at 5:50AM, down with the camp and back to the ship. Zodiac ride at 5:30AM.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.