Passengers hardly notice as the compass needle wobbles. They’ve just passed over the Magnetic South Pole on a day-long flight over Antarctica. Underneath you, as you fly over, you will be able to witness all the glaciers and icy land masses that have been formed through centuries of harsh and relentless weather. Even this high above the land they can watch the wind sending ribbons of snow toward the sea, making it look as if plumes of steam instead of snow are sweeping across the glacier’s frozen white waves. Visit this site for further information on Antarctic Cruising Tours.
It took 134 days for the first explorers to travel the 2,030 kilometers to the Magnetic South Pole in 1909. Today’s flight reached the South Magnetic Pole a mere four hours after having left,. Passengers were treated to a several hour air tour over the planet’s last frontier, Antarctica.
The ‘pole’ is the point at which magnetic lines of force meet in the Southern Hemisphere. These forces are what makes compasses spin and needles on them jump when the plane flies above Antarctica. Equipped with satellite guidance and a gyroscope, the jumbo jet is able to hold it’s course. The geographic South Pole – which is different than the magnetic South Pole – is where most explorers in the 1900s raced to discover is approximately 2500 kilometers away. Just like the American pilot who flew over the North and South Poles for the first time, passengers on today’s flight can say they accomplished their goals while sitting down.
If you were to actually deplane, you would find out why the Antarctic is one of the most forbidding places to visit. The wind will cut right through you. Inside, you’re quite comfortable in your t-shirt and shorts. Only three hours from, the first icebergs were seen. This started the party-like atmosphere that now filled the plane. Tourists of all ages now clamor for the best places to view the icebergs from the plane windows. This site teaches you about antarctic tours.
As the plane gets closer to the magnetic South Pole, the icebergs begin to multiply and begin to take on unusual geometrical shapes along the Antarctic coast, shining like bits of glass and broken mirror in a striking display against the dark blue sea. The tourists take turns pointing out amazing glacial formations, and taking video, snapping pictures, or silently marvel at the astounding beauty of glaciers sinking majestically into the ocean. The view of the huge Trans Antarctic Mountains was awe inspiring for them, as well brilliant white ice caps that were accentuated by streaks of blue.
While flight travel is not new to the Antarctic, it has not been until recently that interest has really made travel a viable and profitable experience. Along with the marvelous views of mountains, icebergs, coasts, and glaciers, passengers are treated to an aerial view of an old French research station, and it’s deserted runway, which originally displaced a penguin colony, but was left in ruin by a tidal wave. The French base is fairly close to the magnetic South Pole which was once explored by geologists from.
