The Antarctic Peninsula is highly mountainous with its highest peaks rising to about 9,186 feet (2800 km). It has the mildest climate of all Antarctica so has the highest concentration of research stations. The peninsula is also the closest part of Antarctica to South America, thus the most visited. The jagged mountain peaks clad in glaciers, huge open skies, abundant icebergs and abundant wildlife will keep a visitor in a constant state of awe.

British sealers were the first to arrive at South Georgia in 1786, and by 1909 the seal population was almost wiped out. Whaling began in 1904 and lasted until 1964. The Grytviken whaling station was the last to close and today is a museum. The whaler’s cemetery at Grytviken is the last resting place of the renowned polar explorer, Ernest Shackleton, who died there in 1922. South Georgia is 864 miles (1390 km) east-southeast of the Falkland Islands. Its size is approximately 106 miles (170 km) by 18 miles (29km). Most of the island rises steeply from the sea with rugged mountains forming its backbone. At higher elevations the island is permanently covered with ice, snow, and glaciers. This stunningly beautiful and rugged island is a world class wildlife sanctuary. The shear numbers of birds and animals are not easily forgotten. It is truly an “oasis” in the stormy southern oceans.

The Falkland Islands are situated about 350 miles (487 km) east of the South American coast. They consist of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland together with 776 smaller islands. The islands are a self-governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. A small scattering of hardy souls inhabit the islands generally earning their living from sheep farming. The real lure of these remote isles is the wildlife. Birds and marine animals are in abundance and have little fear of humans.

(pronounced u’swaia) is the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego and the southern most city in the world. Note: Punta Arenas, Chile is the southern most town in the world. Ushuaia is located on the southern coast of the island of Tierra del Fuego in a wide bay that has the Beagle Channel to the south and the Martial mountain range on the north. It is a good walking city if one does not mind walking up and down the hill. I believe it is the contrast between modern buildings and wooden-sheet metal houses with vivid colors that give Ushuaia it’s character. Ushuaia is generally the most popular “jumping off place” for Antarctic expeditions.

This collection of pictures is from the Kamchatka Peninsula, Commander Islands, Kuril Islands, and Sakhalin. Kamchatka lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west. This 1,250 km long peninsula has 160 volcanoes, 29 still active so it has perhaps the highest density of volcanoes in the world. Kamchatka also boasts diverse wildlife. The Commander Islands were named after Vitus Bering who died of scurvy there in 1741. The only small town on the islands is Nikolskoye which is still inhabited by both Russians and Aleuts. The Kuril Island chain is known for its foggy weather and it held true to form. In about ten days we had only one clear day. A few other days the weather cleared for parts of the day.