Avoiding footprints
Welcome visitors?
Most
tourists visit Antarctica between November and March when the sea-ice
has melted and there are long hours of daylight. A few people are lucky
enough to take part in an overland adventure, even cross-country skiing
to the South Pole. Others pay for a private yacht or a chartered flight
over Antarctica. But most of the continent’s visitors travel on
a cruise ship that can carry up to 500 passengers. Starting from a port
like Ushuaia on the southern tip of Argentina, these cruise ships sail
to the Antarctica Peninsula, stopping off at various attractions.
Like every visitor to Antarctica, tourists have to be extremely careful not to damage the fragile wilderness. The countries of the Antarctic Treaty have agreed guidelines for visitors to Antarctica, which aim to ensure that people follow the strict environmental rules governing activities in Antarctica. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), of which the vast majority of Antarctic tour operators are members, work to ensure that these guidelines are followed carefully to ensure that tourism activities in Antarctica do not impact on the environment.
Visit some of the popular stops on the Antarctica Peninsula:
