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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, December 3rd 2025 - 21:04 UTC

Antarctica

  • Saturday, May 3rd 2025 - 08:39 UTC

    Tourism tsunami in Antarctica, 125,000 visitors per season and growing

    “The main problem with tourism in Antarctica is that it is growing rapidly, and there is no strict regulation,” Claire Christian, director of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC)

    The massive inflow of tourism in Antarctica during the austral summer, almost 125,000 visitors per season, more than double the number five years ago, is becoming a growing concern for many NGOs and conservation organizations.

  • Friday, May 2nd 2025 - 19:07 UTC

    No injuries or damages reported as strong quake hits Strait of Magellan region

    Some 1,100 people were evacuated in Puerto Williams

    A 7.4-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale struck the Drake Passage Friday, triggering a tsunami warning for Chile's Magallanes region and Antarctic Territory. Chile and neighboring Argentina carried out preventive evacuations, relocating thousands from coastal areas. Shortly after, a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit Puerto Williams, followed by a 6.1 aftershock in the Strait of Magellan. Chilean authorities later downgraded the tsunami alert but suspended maritime activities. No injuries or damages were reported, and both countries continue to monitor the situation, urging residents to remain in safe zones.

  • Friday, April 25th 2025 - 06:21 UTC

    Enhanced Marine Protected Area in South Georgia: No Take Zones expanded for krill and toothfish

    Map of the new MPA measures with No Take Zones’ that now cover over 470,000 km², representing 38% of the MPA.

    The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) has announced that enhanced Marine Protection Area (MPA) measures officially come into force on 22nd Apri), following the signing of new legislation by Her Excellency the Commissioner, Alison Blake CMG.

  • Thursday, April 24th 2025 - 06:13 UTC

    Talks on discovery in Antarctica of the ozone hole 40 years ago at Royal Geographic Society

    British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has teamed up with the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in London to host a special series of talks on Tuesday, 6 May 2025. 

    To commemorate the extraordinary moment the ozone hole was discovered in Antarctica 40 years ago, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has teamed up with the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in London to host a special series of talks on Tuesday, 6 May 2025. 

  • Thursday, April 24th 2025 - 05:58 UTC

    IAATO Reaffirms Commitment to Antarctic Ambassadorship with Update to Bylaws

    Antarctic Ambassadorship Day – April 24, 2025

    The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has reaffirmed its dedication to fostering global stewardship for Antarctica through a key update to its bylaws, further solidifying Antarctic ambassadorship as a central pillar of its mission.

  • Tuesday, April 22nd 2025 - 17:53 UTC

    Debbie’ first encounter with the Cruise industry, “the little Red Ship which also delivered mail to Falklands”

    Debbie Summers' first sight of a cruise ship visiting the Falklands meant summer had arrived and heartedly welcomed visitors back (Pic,: Debbie Summers)

    To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Seatrade Cruise Global News is inviting a cross section of executives working in the industry, from a wide range of sectors and geographies, to share insights on their first encounters with the wonderful world of cruise shipping. Features in the regular edition are written by Mary Bond, Editor in Chief.

  • Saturday, April 12th 2025 - 10:45 UTC

    South Georgia, new electronic permit system (EPS) for visitors next season

    A view of Grytviken, the capital of South Georgia

    The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands has announced that it will launch a new electronic permit system (EPS) for visitors to the Territories in advance of the next tourist season, replacing the current system of levying landing fees by an individual visitor permit charge. The cost of a visitor permit will be set initially at £200.

  • Monday, April 7th 2025 - 15:54 UTC

    Insights into the impact of melting mega-brergs with robotic gliders

    Gathering data from the ocean immediately surrounding a giant iceberg is difficult. Credit: Alice Marzocchi

    For the first time, scientists have collected measurements close to a giant iceberg, giving an unprecedented window into the impact of meltwater on the surrounding Southern Ocean and ecosystem. The paper is published in the journal Nature Geoscience. 

  • Monday, April 7th 2025 - 10:45 UTC

    Iran sacks VP over luxurious Patagonian cruise ship trip

    The sacked official claimed the luxurious Patagonian cruise trip stemmed from before holding public office

    Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian Saturday sacked Vice President Shahram Dabiri after a photo surfaced on Instagram of the latter and his wife on a luxurious trip to Antarctica aboard the cruise ship Plancius. An eight-day trip on that ship can cost around US$ 4,000 per person, it was reported.

  • Wednesday, April 2nd 2025 - 09:47 UTC

    Glaciers melting rapidly call for action

    The preservation of glaciers is a matter of survival, Saulo said

    The world has lost 5% of its ice volume over the past 20 years, with an annual melt of 273 billion tons, according to a recent study by the United Nations (UN) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Regions like Europe (39% loss), the Caucasus and Middle East (35%), and New Zealand (29%) were heavily impacted as all 19 glacier regions globally lost mass in 2024 for the third consecutive year, with the 2022-2024 period marking the largest three-year loss ever, including 450 billion tons in 2022 alone.