Overview

To people who haven’t been there, Antarctica seems remote, extreme and perhaps even forbidding. Yet everybody who has visited comes back full of enthusiasm, with amazing memories and stunning photos. The author inspires interest in this amazing place while encouraging responsible, informed and sustainable tourism. She helps you to decide where and when to go, whether to include South Georgia and/or the Falklands, how to read between the lines of an itinerary, which operator to book with and what size of ship will suit you best. She provides practical information about weather, clothing and photography, and gives links to useful websites and further reading. She covers various specialist options from sea kayaking to camping on the ice. The wildlife section is lavishly illustrated with photos of creatures ranging from tiny krill through seabirds and penguins to seals, dolphins and whales with their amazing adaptations. Understanding their breeding cycles helps you to anticipate what you will see at different times of year. Specially commissioned mapping lets you understand the trade-offs between different itineraries.  Graphics and over 100 colour photos support the concise text which is informed by the author’s personal experiences. Antarctica’s ice cap stores 90% of the world’s freshwater ice, and it is a crucial place for climate monitoring and other scientific research. The author explains the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, and the Madrid and Montreal Protocols, and their implications both for the continent and for visitors on cruise ships. She interprets the formation of icebergs and glaciers, how the climate varies over different parts of Antarctica and how Antarctic ice affects sea levels. The guide covers the history of Antarctica’s discovery and exploration, not only the Scott/Amundsen famous race to the South Pole and Shackleton’s extraordinary rescue, but also the less-known achievements of Douglas Mawson.  The story is updated with the Jarvis recreations of Mawson’s and Shackleton’s famous journeys, and the discovery of the Endurance shipwreck, 107 years after the ship was crushed and sank. Use this book to plan your adventure of a lifetime, but be warned: many who visit Antarctica end up trying to return.

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9781913817084

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Reviews

This excellent guide is packed with sound practical advice and a wealth of fascinating information ... It makes a perfect introduction to the journey of a lifetime. -- Stephen Venables * Prize-winning author and mountaineer *

Author Information

Jacquetta Megarry is an award-winning author of guidebooks to adventurous walks worldwide.  She is expert at making them highly visual, with accurate maps, clear diagrams and superb photos.  Her fascination with Antarctica has been lifelong. After a career in education, information technology and academic publishing, Jacquetta became interested in long-distance walking and trekking. After completing the West Highland Way, her first long walk, in 1998 she progressed to Mount Kilimanjaro, which she has since summited four times by different routes. She is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild and in 2016 won its Award for Excellence (jointly with Max Landsberg) for their jointly authored guidebook Trek to Everest.  

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