Part 2 - DAY 34 Feb 15 - Anvers Island (Palmer Station), Neumayer & Lemaire Channels.

The last part of this spectacular day was probably the finest experience we have had on this whole voyage.

After leaving Lemaire Channel we cruised a little and then entered what surely should be called one of the new wonders of the world – Neumayer Channel.

The experience undoub-tedly was greatly enhanced by the exceptional weather we enjoyed all day, in particular the sunshine and only partly cloudy skies.

This was a very special experiencing cruising through this Antartic channel during the late afternoon and evening.

Neumayer Channel (64°47′26″S 63°8′21″W / 64.79056°S 63.13917°W / -64.79056; -63.13917Coordinates: 64°47′26″S 63°8′21″W / 64.79056°S 63.13917°W / -64.79056; -63.13917) is a channel 16 miles long in a NE-SW direction and about 1.5 miles wide, separating Anvers Island from Wiencke Island and Doumer Island, in the Palmer Archipelago.

The south west entrance to this channel was seen by Eduard Dallmann, leader of the German 1873-74 expedition, who named it Roosen Channel. The Belgian Antarctic Expedition, 1897-99, under Gerlache, sailed through the channel and renamed it for Georg von Neumayer. The second name has been approved because of more general usage.

Neumayer Channel is known for its majestic cliffs, an attraction for tourists who come to the region. It is said to be like a maze with no visible exits because of its inverted S-shape. Its entrance and exits both have sharp bends.

During World War II, the British set up base here at Port Lockroy, to protect interests in the Southern Ocean and though abandoned, the base has recently been restored as a museum.

One thing that was noticeable today was how pleasant the weather can be when there is no wind blowing.

Although we were well covered up for most of the afternoon we could well have got away with less layers. It was not really that cold and many of the crew was out just in their uniforms. I think it is just the biting wind that does the harm.

Shown here is a selection of photo-graphs to try and convey just how uniquely beautiful the scenery around us has been.

This can only be described by the highest order of super-latives. It was more that a National Geographic special.

This was nature at its rawest and most simple. It was pure beauty of an enormous magnitude.