Photo album: "From Melbourne to the Antarctic"
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Thala Dan leaves the port on February 23rd and arrives on March 4th at Dumont d'Urville French base, situated on Petrels Island in Pointe Géologie archipelago, in Adélie land (portion of the Antarctic claimed by France, but this claim, as any other ones, are frozen thanks to the Antarctic Treaty
The tugboat which helped us to leave the wharf |
The pilot who assisted us to leave the harbour, is going to take over another ship which is waiting to enter |
Thala Dan is now in open sea with a very heavy swell |
From Melbourne to Dumont d'Urville French base, we will cover more than 3200 km |
In case of rough sea, it is dangerous to stay on the deck, because we could be washed away by a wave. As a matter of fact we were forbidden to go outside shortly after this photo. |
Albatrosses come along with the ship |
At the beginning of March we sight our first iceberg. It is small and far away, but everyone photographs it many times! |
Then we get sight of loose pack (remains of last year pack ice, broken by storms). The pack ice forms during winter when the sea froze (it is therefore made of salty water) |
At last, we get sight of the ice-covered Antarctic continent and we begin to make out, still very small, Pointe Géologie archipelago, scope of our journey. |
Petrels island, where Dumont d'Urville base is built, is drawing near |
Map of Pointe Géologie archipelago, the Antarctic coast with the Astrolabe glacier, and Petrels island |
On Petrels island, always nearer, we begin sighting some details of the French base |
Many buildings of Dumont d'Urville base are now well visible |
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