China plans to set up two new bases by 2015

A few years ago I remember reading about China planning to set up a fourth research base sometime between 2015 and 2030.  Today, though, I read an article about China planning to not only add their fourth Antarctic base by 2015, but also a fifth one.  One of the new stations will a year round station in Victoria Land and the other will be a summer season station located between their current bases of Zhongshan and Kunlun.

Related Articles:

• China to set up two more research stations at Antarctica (from The Economic Times)

First Ever Whale Skelton Found in Antarctic Waters

While I do not find it particularly surprising that the first whale skeleton was only recently found in Antarctic waters, I did find it interesting that only six naturally occurring ones have ever been found on the sea floor worldwide.  It was also interesting to read about how the whale skeletons are part of the ocean's circle of life in that they become reefs.  In this particular case they actually found nine new species on the whale skeleton.  Learn more here.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong is nonfiction informational book geared towards grades 3 and up.  The purpose of the book is to tell the story of Shackleton's 1914-1916 Endurance expedition.  The book also provides some good introductory information about Antarctica as it explains some aspects of the continent's history, climate, and geography in depth to provide a more complete understanding of the struggles the expedition faced and highlight how significant their accomplishments were for the time.  The book reprints some of the actual photographs taken during the expedition expedition to help make the story come to life visually for the readers.  This book has won several awards and honors including the 1999 Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction.

Sea World Orlando promotes new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin with Epic Voyage

Sea World Orlando is promoting the new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin attraction by visiting several cities in the United States with its Epic Voyage promotion.  Epic Voyage will include a massive ice dome, a virtual reality experience, Antarctica themed games in which participants can win prizes, Coca Cola freestyle machines providing free drinks, and even live penguins.   There will also be street teams providing trivia, prizes, and virtual reality experiences.

Epic Voyage Schedule:

• January 19-20, 2013 - The New York Times Travel Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
• January 24, 2013 - Gurnee Mills Mall in Illinois
• January 26-27, 2013 - Chicago Travel & Adventure Show
• February 8-10, 2013 - Boston Globe Travel Show at Seaport World Trade Center
• February 23-24, 2013 - King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania
• March 9-10, 2013 - Washington, D.C. Travel & Adventure Show
• March 23-24, 2013 - The Avenues Mall in Jacksonville, Florida
• April TBD - Atlanta stop
• April 27, 2013 - Miami Dolphins Fin Fest 2013
• May 4-5, 2013 - Aventura Mall in Miami, Florida

Related Links:

• New Details on Empire of the Pengun Ride Coming to Sea World Orlando in 2013
• Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin Area Coming to Sea World Orlando in 2013
• Sea World's Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin Ride Vehicle Unveiled

Shackleton Epic Recreating James Caird Voyage

Later this month the Shackleton Epic expedition is going to attempt to historically recreate what is probably the most famous and amazing story of survival, the James Caird voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island and the crossing of South Georgia Island.  The expedition is using historically accurate gear and a replica of the James Caird lifeboat that Shackleton and five of his crew used to get to South Georgia Island and get help to rescue the rest of the Endurance crew after their lost their ship sunk in the Antarctic in 1915.  They will have some modern help available, though, as a ship will follow them for filming as well as to offer support if necessary.

You can follow the expedition on their Facebook page here.  They also have a website here, but at the time of this post it appears to be down.

Whale Wars 2013: Sea Shepherd Ships Depart for Antarctic

This year the Sea Shepherds have 4 ships that they are using to try and keep the Japanese from killing any whales in the Antarctic this season.  The ships are now headed to the Antarctic ahead of the Japanese fleet, which was delayed this season due to issues with the factory ship.  It should be interesting to see how this season goes with the leader Paul Watson stepping down as the key figure due to legal actions and evading extradictions that are out for him from Costa Rica and Japan.  Also, a United States court has ordered them to stay at least 450 meters from the Japanese, which is quite far compared to some their previous antics and would be interesting to see if they actually keep with it and if so what they end up doing to keep their goal of stopping the Japanese from killing any whales.

Related Articles:

• Sea Shepherd boats set sail for Antarctica

The Coldest Journey Expedition to Attempt Winter Crossing of Antarctica

The Coldest Journey is the name of the expedition that is attempting what is said to be the first ever attempt to cross the Antarctic during the winter.  This feat is one of the last great polar challenges remaining to be accomplished.  The expedition is expected to begin its trek on March 21, 2013 at Crown Bay in Queen Maud Land in Eastern Antarctica.  The expedition plans to finish around September 21, 2013 at McMurdo Sound where they will remain until being picked up by a ship in February 2014.

Learn more about the expedition on their website here.

Television Shows with Penguins: Jake's Cool New Matey Episode

The "Jake's Cool New Mate" episode of Jake and the Never Land Pirates is about a penguin named Percy coming ashore Pirate Island in search of Chi-Chi-Chilly Canyon (a part of Never Land that is winter all year long) for his penguin colony to move to because their current colony broke apart.  The episode is rather a poor representation of penguins because it seems to try to properly represent them, but then it has the penguin joking about being chased by polar bears, which is so inaccurate of an idea that it rather taints the episode from even being a fun fantasy representation of penguins.  It is one thing to portray fictional penguins as cartoon characters, but I cannot stand the way it seems to imply that polar bears and penguins coexist naturally.

Kate Upton Sports Illustrated Bikini Photo Shoot in Antarctica

Recently Kate Upton did a bikini photo shoot in the Antarctic.  Sure, seems cold for such a thing, especially since it was not related to swimming in the hot water I remember doing on my Antarctic Cruise.  However, she did cover up in warm clothes mostly and only was in the bikini only for a few minutes at a time.  It also appears she was always wearing some nice and warm looking white boots.

It appears this photo shoot was also related to the recent Oreo delivery to Palmer Station, as some pictures released show her with the Oreo man.

Oreo gives cookies and solar penguin cam to Palmer Station to celebrate its 100th Birthday

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of Oreo cookies as well as Scott reaching the South Pole (it was not discovered the same year as Oreos were first made, as this article states, as Amundsen reached it first/discovered the South Pole in December 1911).  To celebrate the centennial, Oreo recently delivered 5,000 cookies to those working at Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula.  Oreo also donated a solar Penguin Cam, which is the first of its kind in Antarctica.