Think it’s too late to go to Antarctica this year? Not so! There are some fantastic discounts being offered on our remaining 2014 Antarctica cruises. We’re celebrating with a month full of fascinating stories about Antarctica that are sure to put this continent on your bucket-list, if it’s not already! Enjoy these photos of Antarctic icebergs that will blow your mind.
The Antarctic Peninsula is home to some of the most spectacular natural artwork on the planet. Here, you’ll find ninety-three percent of the world’s mass of icebergs, an ever-changing icescape of “growlers” to bergy bits and even ice islands. Growlers are the smallest icebergs, less than 6.6 feet across, with less than 3.3 of their mass showing above water. Bergy bits – that’s their real, official name – are the next size class, spanning 6.6 feet to 15 feet in size. These smaller chunks of floating glacier ice are often the result of larger icebergs breaking down.
The icebergs you’ll see in the Antarctic Peninsula area are carved and shaped by unique climate conditions, resulting in the odd and spectacular ice art you see here.
Pleneau Island, in particular, is one of the best places in the world to view icebergs, thanks to its location west of Booth Island at the northern tip of the peninsula. This area, known as Iceberg Alley, usually offers the best iceberg viewing and photography opportunities on your expedition.
As the warm sun and surface air melt the exposed surface of the iceberg, small pools called melt ponds form. Thawing snow and ice drip and trickle down the iceberg, widening cracks and reshaping the iceberg. As summer goes on and the water warms, icebergs begin to melt from the bottom up, as well.
Water lapping up the sides of the iceberg can create tunnels and caverns beneath the top shelf of the iceberg.
The color of icebergs changes, as well, depending on its makeup and inclusions. Most are blue, but eventually turn white as air temperatures change the volume of air bubbles in the ice. You may even spot a green iceberg, though these are rare.
Icebergs are an important part of the Antarctic ecosystem; as they melt, nutrients carried from the ice shelf they originally calved from (broke away from) leak into the ocean. Researchers have found the oceans surrounding icebergs rich in plankton, fish and other aquatic life.
The word “iceberg” is borrowed from the Dutch word ijsberg – the literal translation is “ice mountain.” It’s not hard to see why; check out this stunning picture from an area known as the Iceberg Graveyard in Pleneau Bay. Here, icebergs run aground and melt slowly, morphing and seemingly shape-shifting into formations ranging from perfectly geometric to abstract and dream-like.
If you’re really lucky, these icebergs might even “speak” to you! As a piece of an iceberg melts, water works its way into compressed air bubbles deep in the glacier ice, making a fizzing sound known as the “Bergie Seltzer.” You might even hear a “pop” as the bubble bursts.
A calving glacier, as it breaks away from an ice shelf, makes a loud crack and might even sound like thunder.
Antarctic icebergs are a surreal sight. Join us in the Antarctic this season to get up close and personal with some of Mother Nature’s most spectacular artwork!
Right now there are some amazing discounts being offered on 2014 Antarctica cruises. But hurry, there are only a few spaces left on these 2014 voyages!
This article was reprinted with permission from the Quark travel blog .
Request Your 2025/2026 Catalog
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Together, Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to arrange nearly 100 nature travel experiences around the planet, while helping to protect the magnificent places we visit and their wild inhabitants.
Request Your 2025/2026 Catalog
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Together, Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to arrange nearly 100 nature travel experiences around the planet, while helping to protect the magnificent places we visit and their wild inhabitants.
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!
Hidden form View
Home Trips Trips Catalog Catalog Contact Contact More More
Have a question or comment? Click any of the buttons below to get in touch with us.Hours Mountain Time
×
Home
Trips
Trips
Catalog
Catalog
Book
Contact
Contact
More
More
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[aside-height-start]
[aside-height-start]
[aside-height-end form-start]
[aside-height-end form-start]
[aside-content-start aside-text-start]
[aside-content-start aside-text-start]
[aside-text-end]
[aside-text-end]
[aside-image-start]
[aside-image-start]
[aside-image-end aside-content-end]
[aside-image-end aside-content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end image-height-start]
[main-header-end image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-end]
[image-height-end content-end]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-aside-image]
[ebook-aside-image]
[ebook-aside-text]
[ebook-aside-text]
[ebook-logos]
[ebook-logos]
[form-header-start]
[form-header-start]
[form-header-end form-start]
[form-header-end form-start]
[ebook-header-form]
[ebook-header-form]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[aside-start]
[aside-start]
[aside-end form-start]
[aside-end form-start]
[content-start]
[content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[aside-content-start aside-image-start]
[aside-content-start aside-image-start]
[aside-image-end]
[aside-image-end]
[aside-text-start logos-start]
[aside-text-start logos-start]
[aside-text-end logos-end aside-content-end]
[aside-text-end logos-end aside-content-end]
[subheader-start]
[subheader-start]
[main-header-end aside-image-start aside-text-start]
[main-header-end aside-image-start aside-text-start]
[aside-text-end logos-start]
[aside-text-end logos-start]
[aside-image-end logos-end]
[aside-image-end logos-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[aside-height-start]
[aside-height-start]
[aside-height-end form-start]
[aside-height-end form-start]
[aside-content-start aside-text-start]
[aside-content-start aside-text-start]
[aside-text-end]
[aside-text-end]
[aside-image-start]
[aside-image-start]
[aside-image-end aside-content-end]
[aside-image-end aside-content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end image-height-start]
[main-header-end image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-end]
[image-height-end content-end]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-aside-image]
[ebook-aside-image]
[ebook-aside-text]
[ebook-aside-text]
[ebook-logos]
[ebook-logos]
[form-header-start]
[form-header-start]
[form-header-end form-start]
[form-header-end form-start]
[ebook-header-form]
[ebook-header-form]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[aside-start]
[aside-start]
[aside-end form-start]
[aside-end form-start]
[content-start]
[content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[aside-content-start aside-image-start]
[aside-content-start aside-image-start]
[aside-image-end]
[aside-image-end]
[aside-text-start logos-start]
[aside-text-start logos-start]
[aside-text-end logos-end aside-content-end]
[aside-text-end logos-end aside-content-end]
[subheader-start]
[subheader-start]
[main-header-end aside-image-start aside-text-start]
[main-header-end aside-image-start aside-text-start]
[aside-text-end logos-start]
[aside-text-end logos-start]
[aside-image-end logos-end]
[aside-image-end logos-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[form-end content-end]
[form-end content-end]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[full-height-start]
[full-height-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[form-end content-end]
[form-end content-end]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[full-height-start]
[full-height-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[content-start main-header-start]
[content-start main-header-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[subheader-end content-end]
[subheader-end content-end]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[form-end content-end]
[form-end content-end]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[full-height-start]
[full-height-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[form-end content-end]
[form-end content-end]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[full-height-start]
[full-height-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]