RIC-20213 Primary Writing Year 5 – Reports

TheT T
Traveller’s Guide
ANTARCTIC EXPERIENCE
Bathers at Pendulum Cove, Deception Island
Antarctica is unlike any other place on Earth. It is the
coldest, windiest, driest and highest (on average)
continent. Yet this inhospitable place is considered
by travellers as being one of the most beautiful
places to visit, particularly the Antarctic Peninsula.
Antarctica is roughly circular in shape, with a long
‘arm’ known as the Antarctic Peninsula extending
towards South America. The peninsula is the most
densely populated region of the continent, containing
a scattering of research posts and their personnel.
The area is more hospitable with a ‘warmer’ climate
due to its northerly location and the infl uence of
the surrounding ocean, and therefore has the most
wildlife to study.
More than 13 000 tourists visit Antarctica each year
on commercial ships and private yachts. Some of
these are sightseeing tours only, without landings.
Any landings are carefully monitored according to
strict guidelines to protect the environment, with no
more than 100 people at a time going ashore.
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8 March
penguin colonies; expeditions to explorers’ historical
huts; discovering how scientists live and work in
Antarctica for extended periods; whale sightings;
and looking at the variety of seals and bird life.
A tour by ship of the Antarctic Peninsula has another
attraction. Deception Island, located off the northern
tip of the peninsula, was formed by a volcano.
Its collapsed volcanic cone, called a ‘caldera’,
provides one of the world’s safest natural harbours.
The volcano is still active, with the most recent
eruptions occurring in 1991–1992. The volcanic
activity forces hot water up through narrow fi ssures
along the shore at a place called Pendulum Cove.
The water is not deep enough to swim but bathing
in the thermally heated waters surrounded by ice
makes it a popular tourist attraction.
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Most cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula leave from
the relatively nearby port of Ushuaia in Argentina,
between the warmer months of November and
March when the winter pack ice breaks up.
Antarctica’s attractions include viewing and
photographing a white, clean, pure environment
with pack ice, giant icebergs and glaciers; visits to
A visit to this unique and fascinating place is an
experience unlike anywhere else on the planet.
Juan Rodriguez, Argentina
PRIMARY WRITING
R.I.C. Publications
www.ricgroup.com.au
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