January 27, 2025

 January 27, 2025


The Balleny Islands - a speck on the map!


Since 1839, there have only been about 50 landings on any of the three Balleny Islands, and we were hoping to be a new statistic.  It also boasts the only Chinstrap Penguin colony near the Ross Sea, so we were excited to land.  Sadly, swells were large and too dangerous to land, but did have a wet, cold, but spectacular time taking the zodiac in and around the middle two islands.  They are volcanic and quite dramatic.


We have included a lot of photos because many of you say to us, “why are you so fascinated by the polar regions?”  The geology and wildlife of the areas are so dramatic.  Both polar regions were tropical millions of years ago.  Volcanos have shaped Antarctica, and some are still active (Mt Eribus).  The Balleny Islands are a minuscule dot on the map that we knew nothing about, and just by good fortune we had the opportunity to see them.  Look at the layers of rock and snow.  There are Penguin highways, and we note where penguins climb to the top of these mountains to nest, but imagine when they have to go back down to get food and then climb up again!  


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We are about to reach the Balleny Islands.  It was very cold and rough.


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There was very little color except for the occasional floating iceberg.


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Penguin highway


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Different view of the highway


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Chinstrap Penguin and Weddell Seal



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Close up of a Chinstrap


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Red arrow is Chinstrap and the blue arrow is the Adélie.  They live together, but do not mate.



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There is of course guano wherever the penguins are red if eat krill, white if eat squid).

The rocks have moss and areas of algae accentuating the dramatic shapes and contours of the rocks.  Huge icicles hang from the edges of glaciers. 


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Layers of snow and possibly ash and dirt.  These layers can be millions of years old.



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Chinstrap island filled with Adelies and a small number of Chinstraps.



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We realized after taking this photo of the snow layers, there were penguins lining the black cliff below.  Amazing little critters!


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This is easier to see the penguins



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Leaving the Antarctic.  This photo showed the gray where we had been and the blue where we are heading.



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Our first sunset since we initially crossed into the Antarctic Circle.



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Some of the last icebergs we will see.


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Close up of the iceberg.  The colors are incredibly vibrant.


We were woken at 2:30am and told the Aurora Australius lights were visible.  We saw them from our room, but by the time we got dressed and ran to the bridge (it’s about 100 feet from our room), clouds had covered the sky.  Maybe tonight!


Bon Nuit!


Jody & Mel

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