After transiting the Lemaire Channel, we disembarked on Petermann Island, the southern-most stop on our voyage. We went ashore in Circumcision Harbor, made famous by the great French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot who overwintered here aboard the POURQUOI-PAS? in 1909. An abandoned Argentine refugio hut is near the landing as well as a cross memorial for three British Antarctic Survey scientists lost here in 1982.

This was our first sighting of the Adelie Penguins. The Adelies have a very short nesting cycle and their chicks were already starting to molt and lose their furry down. One of our naturalists, Rosie, spent 5 summers camped on Petermann Island to count and observe penguins for Oceanites. She noted that the Gentoo Penguins are beginning to replace the long-established Adelie colonies on the island.

We walked across the island around large smooth boulders and soft snow which was covered with red algae. The rock strewn landscape made for a very beautiful surrounding. The sun was out and at 45degrees we all began to shed hats, gloves and parkas.

For more photos of Petermann Island, go to Petermann Island Photo Gallery. To read about the next location visited, go to Booth Island.

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