South Georgia & Falkland (Malvinas) Islands
An Area Rich in Polar History
Walk in the footsteps of Shackleton's heroic Antarctic rescue...
The history of South Georgia and Falkland Islands is rich with captivating stories of the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration. During our voyage to these wonderful islands, we will have many opportunities to follow in the footsteps of some of the early explorers. We will also see historical buildings and artifacts of the bygone whaling and sealing era. Our expedition staff includes Tim and Pauline Carr who spent fourteen years on South Georgia establishing and managing the local museum to preserve this interesting history.
Historic Residences in Stromness
Our expedition includes the stops mentioned below, however we must remain flexible because of frequently changing conditions in these polar regions.
Shackleton Walk to Stromness -
Shackleton, Crean, and Worsley were very near the end of their dramatic and perilous self-rescue when they landed on South Georgia and stumbled down into Fortuna Bay from the interior of the island. They had just one short hike remaining, a westward walk of about three miles over to Stromness Harbour to reunite with civilization after over 17 months in the Antarctic. We will retrace this last segment of their historic walk, taking us over a 300 meter ridge with a stunning view across the König Glacier and down to the now rusting inactive whaling station at Stromness to reunite with our ship.
Paying Respects at Shackleton's Grave
in Grytviken
Historic Grytviken -
Grytviken, South Georgia, was one of the single most active whaling stations in all of the history of whaling. But gladly the flensing plan is now empty and the boilers silent. Over sixty years of whaling history is now told in the excellent exhibits of the South Georgia Museum. Our staff members Tim and Pauline Carr are largely responsible for what we see in the museum today, the product of their 14-year labor of love. The natural history exhibits are also enriching and souvenirs are sold in the museum store. After visiting the museum, take a short walk around the bay to the whaler's cemetery where Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried. Unlike the others in the cemetery , Shackleton is buried with his head pointed south towards his beloved Antarctica. It is customary to make a toast to "The Boss" at his gravesite, pouring a shot of rum on his grave. In the graveyard where Shackleton is buried, many young Southern Elephant Seals now snooze atop the whalers who no longer threaten them.
Hiking above Grytviken
During our expedition, the history of Antarctic exploration will come alive as we listen to tales of Sir Ernest Shackleton during onboard lectures while under sail. This famous explorer crossed the rugged backbone of South Georgia from the west to arrive at the Stromness seeking help for his men stranded on Elephant Island. The crew of the Endurance, hand picked by Sir Ernest Shackleton in England for his 1914-1917 expedition, survived on the nutritious, though unappetizing, meat of penguins and seals while waiting for rescue on Elephant Island. Their ship, the Endurance, was crushed by ice in the Weddell Sea. Shackleton and his men had set off in small boats and landed at Elephant Island with hardly any landing room below the steep cliffs along the shore. From here, Shackleton and a handful of men continued in a small boat to South Georgia, returning to Elephant Island 105 days later to rescue the men.
Church in Grytviken Built in 1913
The settlement at Grytviken was started in 1904, by the Norwegian sea captain Carl Anton Larsen as a whaling station. Today, the many rusting buildings and scattered artifacts reveal its success; almost 200 whales were taken here in the first season alone. During its heyday nearly 300 men worked at the station from October to March boiling whale and seal flesh to extract oil. The small quaint church in Grytviken was prefabricated in Norway and shipped south for assembly. The Church was consecrated on Christmas Day in 1913 and is still occasionally used for services today. The white New England-styled church has since been restored and is open for our visit. The whaling station and surrounding area has been declared an Area of Special Tourist Interest (ASTI). Read more about Grytviken.
Return to top
Whale processing relics in Grytviken
Whaling Era -
In the eighteenth and nineteeth centuries, South Georgia was used as a base for sealing and then whaling. The first land-based whaling Carl Anton Larson established station on South Georgia at Grytviken in 1904. Thank goodness whaling and sealing has since ended, allowing time for the recovery of some of these species. During this expedition, you see artifacts and buildings from the sealing and whaling era at Grytviken and Stromness.
Cape Disappointment -
Captain Cook was one of the first to lay eyes on South Georgia, and his great hope was that he had found the tip of a great southern continent. The name Cape Disappointment reflects his feelings when he found that South Georgia was no continent at all. He was none too impressed with South Georgia without apparent exploitable resources, but the Black-browed Albatross that breed in great numbers on the sheer slopes here never did mind his departure. They are less numerous now due to the impact of long-line fishing, but still impressive in number. If weather is favorable we may ship cruise to this southern extreme for a good look and a thorough exploration of this crown jewel of the great Southern Ocean.
South Georgia Museum
Tim and Pauline Carr - are part of our Expedition Staff of eleven. They spent fourteen years on South Georgia working for the South Georgia Museum, first as Custodians and then as Curators. Before becoming the sole resident human population on South Georgia, they spent 25 years circumnavigating the globe in Curlew, a 28-foot, engineless wooden sailboat, built in 1898. Arriving at South Georgia in 1992, the Carrs were inspired by this incredible island and wrote the book Antarctic Oasis in 1998. In addition to their sailing exploits around the island, they have explored inland extensively whilst camping in tents, bivouacs and snow holes. Tim and Pauline are delightful personalities, and they bring an unparalleled intimate knowledge of this very special and remote island, and a passion for its early history reflected in the museum.
Read more about South Georgia Island History.
Stanley - was established in 1843 and it became the capital of the Falkland Islands only two years later. Named for Lord Stanley, the contemporary British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, the city was an important ship repair and whaling port before the construction of the Panama Canal.
The city boasts several historic sites and you will have time to take a walking tour of them while we are in port. The Whalebone Arch, a popular photo stop that was created from four jawbones of two massive whales in 1933, is adjacent to the world’s southernmost cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, consecrated in 1892. Falkland Islands Museum displays the rich natural and social history of these islands. Two memorials pay tribute to the Falklands turbulent past: the Battle of the Falklands Memorial honoring a World War I naval battle and the 1982 Falklands Conflict memorial honoring the British Forces and civilians who lost their lives. Both recall the tumultuous times when these quiet islands drew the attention of the world. The wreck of the Jhelum lays in the harbor, as a tribute to the hazardous life of the early sailor. The ship Jhelum arrived distressed and leaking in 1870 while en-route from Callao to Dunkirk and was soon pronounced unseaworthy.
Derelict ship, Protector III, at New Island, Falklands
©Debbie Thompson
New Island -
Our landing site on New Island South will be near a derelict ship, the Protector III. First used as a minesweeper, then as a sealing vessel, this ship was beached in 1969. Unknowing of its gruesome past, Blue-eyed Shags now use it as a nesting platform. A frequent visitor and possibly the earliest resident of New Island was American Captain Charles Barnard of the whaler Nanina. Barnard and four of his crew were marooned here during 1813-14. They built a rough stone shelter, the origins of which now form the Barnard Memorial Museum, which you will be able to visit.
Read more about Falklands Islands History.
Return to top
Learn more about this expedition!
Return to top
All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.
| Home |
Current Trips |
Site Map |
Contact Us |
About Us |
|
