Pleneau Island

img_0832_1

65d 06m 09.1s S, 64d 02m 39.6s W (WP139)

We continued south to explore the Danco Coast part of the western edge of the Antarctic Peninsula, cruising through the picturesque narrow Lemaire Channel until we go to Pleneau Island and its calm bays where a “iceberg museum of sorts” could be found. Here was a large collection of “beached” icebergs, for which the elements of wind, water, freeze & melt took control creating a variety of unique shapes.

Among these amazing icebergs, we were treated to a rare sighting of over 200 crab-eater seals swimming together in formation. It was certainly a sight to see and reminded me what these waters might have been like hundreds of years ago before humans came to hunt the mighty whales. I took a lot of video to capture the fluid motion of these animals. For now, here are two snapshots.

dsc03466

dsc03460

We also were courted by a leopard seal, the king of these oceans, well fed due to the local Gentoo penguin rookery nearby.
 dsc03446
Pleneau Island itself was an interesting collection of large granite slabs, very different than any of the previous islands we had moored upon. It also spotted a nice areal coverage of pink algae that added to the many colours of the landscape.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *