Puerto Williams Striving to be Chile's Ushuaia Equivalent

Puerto Williams is located in Chile, but is only about 25 miles from Ushuiaia in Argentina is located.  Ushuaia is the main port that Antarctica tourist cruises leave from.  Puerto Williams plans to expand their port to accommodate the cruise liners.  Further down the road they also plan to expand the local airport.  While they just got some Chilean government money to improve their tourism industry, it appears it will still be a while before they even have the facilities to even try to compete with Ushuaia.

On one hand competition can be good for getting quality tourist experiences, but on the other hand this is sort of attempting to expand the Antarctic tourist industry, which overall is not good for the continent.  Sure, the lack of competition might lead to increasingly expensive Antarctic tourism/cruises, but this is the type of tourism industry that I feel needs to be that way to protect the natural environment of Antarctica for others to enjoy it as it is for as long as possible.

Related News Article:

• Puerto Williams poised to become Chile Antarctica travel hub 

Raytheon Science Support of NSF Research Awarded New Contract

I am very familiar with Raytheon being the employer/provider of the support staff for NSF run bases/camps in Antarctica, although I did not realize it has been only since 2000.  However, at the same time I have much longer known them for what most people think of them as, which is a defense contract company.  I always think it is funny that a company that builds and sells things like missiles is the same company that handles the support staff for scientific research research in Antarctica, where military activity is banned (military personnel and equipment can be used to scientific research or other peaceful purposes).

The new contract is a $157 million one that extends Raytheon Polar Services support staff role through March 31, 2012.

Whisky Recovered from Antarctica Replicated

Earlier this year McKinlay and Co whisky was removed from the ice at one of the camps Shackleton left behind from his 1909 Nimrod Antarctic Expedition.  The company ( Whyte & Mackay distillery) that now owns McKinlay and Co whisky has studied the only whisky formulation and successfully replicated its unique flavor.

The Scotland Whyte & Mackay distillery will be selling 50,000 bottles of the replication.  The bottles are priced at £100 and 5% of each sale will go to the Antarctic Heritage Trust.

Related Posts:

• Video of Shackleton's Whiskey Being Recovered
• Shackleton's Whisky Salvaged
• Whisky to be Salvaged from Antarctica

Historic Admiral Richard Byrd 2nd Antarctic Expedition Rediscovered

Back in January, a team of researchers rediscovered one of the depots used by American Admiral Richard Byrd and his other expedition members on his 2nd Antarctic Expedition between 1933 and 1935. At the depot they found three crampons and a set of wooden expandable survey poles. Two of the crampons belonged to Quin A Blackburn and one belonged to Richard Russell. The poles had the name Cox on them. The straps of the crampons had disintegrated, but they were otherwise in good condition including no rust on the buckle since it is a dry windblown area (Antarctica is a desert afterall!).

Video Game with Penguins: 3DS AR Game - Graffiti

I got my Nintendo 3DS yesterday, but did not try the AR Games until today. When I first started the Graffiti (drawing) game, the first thing I drew was a penguin. Mine came out okay, but what is really cool is that one of the few stamp options is a realistic little penguin. I had some fun making some pics using it including one with penguins on an iceberg. As a penguin lover I had a lot of fun with Graffiti partially just because I could stamp penguins.

Mars Space Suit Tested in Antarctica

Recently, a space suit prototype that may eventually be used for a manned mission to Mars by NASA was studied in the harsh, windy conditions of Antarctica. The average temperature on Mars is -200 degrees Farenheit, which is not colder than Antarctica, but the 47 mile per hour winds do help create similar cold conditions or at least as cold as you can get in a natural Earth setting. The suit was tested while users did various activities similar to what they would do on Mars.

It is not the first time Antarctica has been used as a Mars-like habitat for space study reasons. Back in 2007, an Inflatable Habitat was tested at McMurdo for potential use on the moon and Mars. The dry valleys of Antarctica have also been studied as an Earth equivalent to the dry valleys on Mars.

Antarctica Themed Painting in Alexis Rockman: A Fable for Tommorrow Art Exhibit

Earlier this week at the Smithsonian American Art Museum I happened upon a cool Antarctica themed painting in the Alexis Rockman: A Fable for Tomorrow exhibit of paintings. The paintings are mostly fantasy or future nature themed. The Antarctic themed "South" painting is a several panel one that is among the biggest in the exhibit. It mainly features icebergs.

The exhibit will remain on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (same building as the National Portrait Gallery) until May 8, 2011. It will also be on display at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio September 24, 2011 through January 1, 2012.

Yacht Goes Missing off Antarctica

Yet, another ship distress signal this season in Antarctica has occurred. This time it is a private chartered yacht. The yacht recently dropped off two passengers on the continent for a South Pole expedition. Yesterday, the yacht sent out a distress signal, but when the closest ship reached the point the distress signal had ceased operating and the yacht was no where to be found. A few other ships in the area have joined the search and an airplane will likely help with the search when the weather clears.

More on this here.

Google UK Doodle features Ernest Shackleton Today

I usually do not check out Google Doodles, but I just had to when I saw something about Ernest Shackleton having one today in my Google News alerts. Was confused to notice it was not on my google homepage (US), but it totally makes more sense the it is the Google.co.uk homepage that has it.

Ernest Shackleton was born on February 15, 1874, so today it honor his 137th birthday. The doodle represents his famous Endurance expedition.

London Zoo's Bigger Penguin Pool Opening in May 2011

The London Zoo is opening a bigger Penguin Beach pool area for the penguins that live at their zoo. There have been penguins as part of the London Zoo for over 150 years. The new habitat is expected to open on May 27, 2011. The new area is four times bigger and three times deeper than their current exhibit area.

The most interesting addition in my opinion is that the new exhibit will also include a replica field station. This part of the exhibit will be about current penguin research that is taking place in Antarctica.

Read more about this here.