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 Mt Herschel (3335m), as seen from Cape Hallet, Antarctica by Andrew Mandemaker in Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Antarctica is the icy continent "at the bottom of the world". It is a land of extreme cold, but even here, there are hardy tourists in very small but increasing numbers. Those with the will and the wallet to explore Antarctica will be rewarded with vistas that are simply incomparable to anywhere else on earth. There is no single government on Antarctica. It is governed by the 1959 Antartic Treaty, which establishes Antarctica as an international research zone. There are no cities and no capital in Antarctica, and the population ranges between 1000-4000 per year, composed mainly of scientists. Commercial tours of Antarctica fall under three categories: sea voyages, land expeditions and aerial sightseeing tours. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, www.iaato.org, is an organisation of approximately 80 agencies that offer non-research travel to this region. Fast Facts about Antarctica Gentoo penguin, Arctowski Antarctic Polish base, Antarctica licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 When to visit AntarcticaThe Antartic tour season is short, lasting from November till February, coinciding with summer in the southern hemisphere. The main wildlife to watch in Antarctica are the penguins. Their courting and mating season begins in November. The penguin eggs hatch in December and January. At midsummer, sunlight extend for 20-24 hours. By February, the penguin chicks are starting to fledge. The late summer month of February is also the best time for whale watching.What to wear in AntarcticaWarm clothing and sweaters are expected even during the summer season, and heavier clothing is required when the weather turns bad. | ||||
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