King George Island to Puerto Williams

The South Shetland Islands is a group of 11 major and several minor islands located 960 km south of the tip of South America and about 120 km north of the Antarctic Peninsula. While discovered towards the beginning of the seventeenth century, either by Dutch or Spanish explorers, it is currently not administered by any one nation. There are 18 research stations on the islands (10 year-round, 8 summer only). Read more about South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Hope Bay is located on Trinity Peninsula, the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, 350 km north of the Antarctic Circle.This is the closest part of Antarctica to the South American mainland. Hope Bay is 5 km long and 3 km wide, and opens into Antarctic Sound, a short strait separating Trinity Peninsula from a number of offshore islands. Actually, Hope Bay is often unreachable due to pack ice from the Larsen Ice Shelf clogging Antarctic Strait. Read more about Hope Bay, Antarctica

Drake Passage is the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Named after the sixteenth century English explorer Sir Francis Drake, although he never actually sailed the passage, it connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and is the shortest crossing from Antarctica to the rest of the world’s land, about 860 km. Conditions can change instantly in the Drake Passage, owing to strong winds, large waves, strong currents, and icebergs: hence notorious as ‘sailors’ graveyard.’ Until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 large ships had to sail this passage. Read more about Drake Passage, Antarctica

Drake Passage is the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Named after the sixteenth century English explorer Sir Francis Drake, although he never actually sailed the passage, it connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and is the shortest crossing from Antarctica to the rest of the world’s land, about 860 km. Conditions can change instantly in the Drake Passage, owing to strong winds, large waves, strong currents, and icebergs: hence notorious as ‘sailors’ graveyard.’ Until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 large ships had to sail this passage. Read more about Drake Passage, Antarctica

Read more about South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Read more about South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Read more about South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Port Stanley is the capital and only town in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope, south of Stanley Harbour, in one of the wettest parts of the islands. It is very easy to see most of the islands’ worthwhile sites on a short walking tour. Read more about Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Saunders Island, NW of West Falkland, is still run as a sheep farm. Saunders Island Settlement, with one listed building known as Stone House, lies on the east coast. There are varied habitats, including wetland and permanent lakes, areas of dune formations and extensive steep cliff slopes. Read more about Saunders Island, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

West Point Island is one of the Falkland Islands lying west of West Falkland. Once a popular site for slaughtering seals, it is now owned by the Napier family and run as a sheep farm and tourist attraction. With a population consisting of only four people, visitors are fascinated to see their little home and appreciate their self-sufficiency. Read more about West Point, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Puerto Williams is a Chilean port and naval base located on Isla Navarino facing the Beagle Channel. It lies 46 km E of Ushuaia on the opposite N side of the Chanel. With a population of a little over 2,000, including both naval personnel and civilians, Puerto Williams claims to be the southernmost city in the world (based on definition of ‘city’; its population is 2900). Read more about Puerto Williams, Chile