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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, June 3rd 2025 - 08:13 UTC

Antarctica

  • Wednesday, November 27th 2024 - 02:40 UTC

    Sunday was World Walrus Day, with some 25,000 along the Atlantic

    Reaching more than 3m long and weighing over a ton, walruses regularly spend most of their time on sea ice. They need ice to breed and to rest

    From their unmistakable tusks to their characteristic bristles (the envy of many a ‘Movember’ moustache!), the walrus is one of the Arctic’s most iconic species, and today (Sunday 24 November) is World Walrus Day!

  • Thursday, November 21st 2024 - 10:00 UTC

    Drones and images from space to count elephant seals in South Georgia

    Elephant seals viewed from a drone on South Georgia (Pic BAS)

    A team of researchers are using drones and satellite images from space to count southern elephant seals on the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia. Using remotely piloted aerial systems (RPAS) to capture detailed ‘on the ground’ photos; the team will compare these with satellite imagery taken from space. This work will update the last island-wide census, conducted nearly 30-years ago.

  • Saturday, November 16th 2024 - 10:56 UTC

    Argentina to open squid season South of parallel 44, January 2025

    The chronogram points out that between parallels 49 and 52 South, the opening of the squid season starts at zero hour of 2 January 2025.

    The Argentine Federal Fisheries Council decided to approve the opening of the next squid season south of parallel 44, beginning 10 January 2025. The decision responds to requests from two Argentine fishing organizations, CAPA and CEPA, with the purpose of optimizing catches and ensures the sustainability of the resource, with zone openings by stages and specific operational conditions of the fleet.

  • Monday, November 4th 2024 - 20:08 UTC

    New deep-sea video uncovers remarkable details of Shackleton’s Endurance wreck

    The leather boot may have belonged to Frank Wild, Shackleton’s second-in-command. “These are priceless historic treasures,” Bound added

    A recently released deep-sea video by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT) unveils remarkable finds aboard Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary ship Endurance, which sank over a century ago.

  • Saturday, November 2nd 2024 - 12:57 UTC

    New documentary “Endurance” chronicles Sir Ernest Shackleton's legendary Antarctic voyage

    It will air on National Geographic starting 1 November, followed by Disney+ and Hulu from 2 November.

    A new documentary titled Endurance has premiered, bringing to life the remarkable survival story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated 1914 Antarctic expedition. The film, from National Geographic Documentary Films, combines restored archival footage of the century-old expedition with the modern-day quest to discover the wreckage of Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, which was found in 2022. The documentary is directed by Academy Award® winners Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, along with BAFTA® nominee Natalie Hewit.

  • Thursday, October 24th 2024 - 10:33 UTC

    Chile's brand new icebreaker receives combat flag

    This flag “has a deep meaning for all of us who have the privilege of wearing the naval uniform,” Captain Henríquez said

    The Chilean Navy's icebreaker AGB-46 Almirante Viel received her combat flag during a cermony at the Talcahuano Naval Base. Viel Captain Juan Pablo Henríquez took delivery on Tuesday of the symbolic item from Chilean Maritime League President Admiral (ret.) Edmundo González.

  • Monday, October 21st 2024 - 08:39 UTC

    Chinese tourists growing interest in visiting Antarctica

    In an interview with TravelDaily China, Joe Zou, Hurtigruten's Sales Director for Greater China and Southeast Asia, highlighted that Chinese tourists accounted for about 20%-25% of their voyages

    In the 2023-2024 Antarctic tourism cruise season, a record 9,384 Chinese tourists visited Antarctica, according to data from IAATO. And this coming season, 24-25 the Hurtigruten cruise line, according to its Shanghai sales office is expecting 600 Chinese tourists to visit the Arctic Islands and more than 1,400 Antarctica.

  • Thursday, October 17th 2024 - 10:24 UTC

    IAATO and COMNAP announce 2024 Antarctic Fellowships

    Lucila Belén Morales, a PhD candidate from Andrés Bello University in Chile

    The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) (*), and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) have announced their selections for the 2024 Antarctic Fellowship. The annual Antarctic Fellowships, are an investment in the professional development of talented early career researchers.

  • Tuesday, October 15th 2024 - 22:47 UTC

    Shackleton's original Hope Cross exhibited at the Discovery Point in Dundee

    The Memorial Cross to Sir Ernest Shackleton at Hope Point, South Georgia, overlooking the British Antarctic Survey’s Grytviken station (PA)

    Sir Ernest Shackleton, the great English polar explorer died in 1922 at the age of 47 in Grytviken, South Georgia during his fourth trip and expedition to the Antarctic continent on board the Quest. .

  • Tuesday, October 15th 2024 - 09:15 UTC

    Chilean fisherman rescued from cold Pacific Ocean waters

    Police Lieutenant Carlos Campos said the drones were pivotal for the operation's success

    Chilean authorities used a thermal drone to locate in the Magellan Strait area and later rescue a fisherman from the Pacific Ocean, it was reported Monday. The man later identified as Sergio Brito was wearing adequate clothing, thanks to which he survived the cold temperatures. In addition, he clung to seaweed while waiting for Carabineros and the Navy.