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