ANTARCTICA

Antarctica , the fifth largest continent, c.5,500,000 sq mi (14,245,000 sq km), asymmetrically centered on the South Pole and almost entirely within the Antarctic Circle.

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Antarctica can lay claim to several prizes in the continent stakes: it is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on earth, and with an average altitude of 7,382ft (2,250m), it is also the highest. The extreme frigidity and ferocious winds, as well as its isolation at the bottom of the world, combine to make Antarctica one of the most inhospitable places on the planet, neither inhabited by a native population nor presided over by an indigenous government.

Yet growing numbers of people are compelled to travel to this vast continent, double the size of Australia; a land of pristine whiteness, where its creatures have figured out remarkable ways to survive a life in the freezer. The landscape is as harsh as it is magical. Icebergs of indescribable beauty are carved and polished into fantastic shapes and sizes by the elements, patterns of blue ice form irregular etchings on the face of floating ice chunks, and the roar of calving glaciers echoes between sheer-sided channel walls. Roughly scoured peaks of rock and ice are reflected in the serene waters of protected bays where the smack of a gigantic fin on the surface indicates the approach of an inquisitive whale. The coastal shores and Sub-antarctic Islands are home to hundreds of squawking and honking penguin rookeries and seal colonies as well as nesting seabirds; the incessant commotion and spectacle of half a million tuxedoed forms, with wings held out to the side for balance on the rocks or tucked in to toboggan over the ice on their bellies, is one of the most characteristic and endearing features of a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula.

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost finger that points to South America, and together with the islands of the Sub-Antarctic, is the most visited region and the best place to view wildlife in Antarctica. Most visits are on organised ship-based expeditions that vary in degrees of luxury, itinerary and size. Antarctic cruises aim to showcase the scenic highlights of the region as well as to educate visitors about the wildlife, historical sites and active research bases. Staff on board these ice-strengthened ships generally include wildlife, historical and geological experts, as well as experienced sailors, and daily shore landings and zodiac cruises provide opportunities for passengers to observe the wildlife from up close and to better appreciate the sculpted ice forms.

Antarctica is not an easy place to get to, nor is it a cheap holiday destination, and part of the price to pay for a cruise is a probable rough crossing of the Drake Passage as well as an itinerary at the mercy of changing weather and ice conditions. However, those that choose to journey to the 'end of the world' can be sure of experiencing a voyage incomparable to any other.