19 Feb 2025

Basking in the glory of the Drygalski Ice Tongue

Today, we awoke to find Heritage Adventurer sailing alongside the Drygalski Ice Tongue, the mammoth extension of the David Glacier that projects over 70 kilometres out to sea. Towering over 20 metres high, its jagged edges and sculpted face caught the early morning sun, creating beautiful patterns of light and shade.

Beyond that, we entered Relief Inlet, where we landed for a walk on the ice, which stretched to distant glaciers and mountains. It was an incredible experience to crunch through the surface snow and look out on a completely pristine, icy wilderness. Under blue skies dotted with delicate lenticular clouds, we observed Emperor and Adélie Penguins gathered on the ice.

As we sailed along the coast of Terra Nova Bay, conditions changed dramatically. Strong katabatic winds blew from glaciers in the interior, whipping the sea into streaks of foaming white. Many of us marvelled at the maelstrom from the bridge or the cosy comfort of the Observation Lounge, with its huge picture windows. We also passed research stations established by China, Italy, Germany and South Korea.

Finally, we encountered a series of giant tabular icebergs, their faces shining in the glow of the low evening sun. What a fantastic scene to end another day of incredible icy wonders.

Images © K. Sutherland & S. Bradley, Heritage Expeditions