| If you're one of those people who loves to | | | | katabatic winds that rage on the coastal |
| get off the beaten track, there can't be many | | | | regions and the whole place is just |
| places further off than Antarctica! | | | | mind-blowing (pardon the pun!)These winds |
| | | | "are caused by a combination of the cold of |
| You can travel to Antarctica by cruise ship | | | | the interior, the domed shape of the |
| from Argentina or Chile, or by icebreaker | | | | continent and intense low pressure systems |
| from Australia or New Zealand.Travellers with | | | | around the coast. For long periods - often |
| less time can fly by jet over Antarctica from | | | | many days - large amounts of dense, cold air |
| Australia for a full day of aerial | | | | slide at an accelerating rate down the |
| sightseeing. | | | | coastal slopes of Antarctica's ice sheet, |
| | | | reaching hurricane force (around 120 km/h) by |
| More adventurous types can try Antarctic | | | | the time they reach the sea. Maximum gusts |
| scuba diving, kayaking, mountain climbing or | | | | can be more than 250 km/h." |
| even a South Pole trekking adventure.When you | | | | |
| tour Antarctica and its neighbouring chains | | | | If you ever complain about it being windy |
| of islands by ship, you'll be able to get up | | | | where you are, spare a thought for the |
| close and personal with all the magnificent | | | | Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911 to |
| wildlife that abounds in these unspoiled | | | | 1914. "At the Cape Denison headquarters, the |
| regions. There are whale, seal and sea bird | | | | average year-round wind speed was nearly 80 |
| watching opportunities. Bird lovers will | | | | km/h, and in June and July the average speed |
| especially appreciate the chance to see the | | | | was 120 km/h."As well as being the windiest, |
| Emperor and King Penguin rookeries. Ask your | | | | Antarctica is also the coldest place on |
| travel agent about the special cruises for | | | | Earth: "the lowest temperatures recorded in |
| birdwatchers.You can fly over Antarctica with | | | | nature have been at the Russian Vostok base, |
| Qantas - details here: There are only ten | | | | when on 21 July 1983, the temperature dropped |
| flights (aboard a Qantas 747) that depart | | | | to minus 89.2 degrees C (-128.6 F). In 1998 |
| Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide between | | | | the Vostok temperature was reported to have |
| October and February. While you're at this | | | | dropped below minus 90 degrees C (this is yet |
| site, click on the Photo gallery link for | | | | to be confirmed)."So take your woolly vest!If |
| some spectacular scenery.This is one holiday | | | | you want to see what it's like before you go, |
| destination where you'll need to pack | | | | here's the webcam at Casey Base: When I just |
| carefully ... no wandering around in a | | | | visited, the temperature was a balmy -5.1 |
| t-shirt and shorts here! You'll find lots of | | | | degrees C, and wind speed 7 km/hr. Hey -- |
| information on what to take, what you'll see | | | | it's summer!J M Stewart is a freelance writer |
| etc here: you know that the average | | | | and editor. Sign up for free, weekly writing |
| thickness of the Antarctic ice is 2,000 m | | | | tips that have been delivered every Friday |
| (6,500 feet), and the greatest measured | | | | since 1998: mailto:J M Stewart's travel site |
| thickness is more than 4,770 m (15,650 feet)? | | | | provides intending travellers with all they |
| (Bramwell, Martyn. Glaciers and Icecaps. | | | | need to know to visit, live and work in |
| Belgium: Franklin Watts, 1986) | | | | Australia. Drop by now to see if you're |
| | | | eligible for an Australian work visa! |
| That's a lot of ice... then add the | | | | |