January 29 Cape Colbeck and the entrance to the Ross Sea

 

Ever hopeful of being able disembark and explore, our hopes were dashed and today became a day of navigating further along the vast coastline of Antarctica. Ice-covered Cape Colbeck is the north-western end of Marie Byrd Land. It was discovered in 1902 and named in honour of Captain William Colbeck one of the first explorers to have over wintered in Antarctica during the Southern Cross expedition of 1899 with Carsten Borchgrevink.  The Cape marks the western side of the vast bay that contains the Ross Sea, the world’s largest marine protected area.  

In fact the whole of Antarctica - the coldest continent on earth with no capital, no language, nor population - is a ‘protected’ area made so in 1959 by a treaty, the Antarctic Treaty created and signed by 12 countries during the International Geophysical Year In 1959. Preceding the formulation and signing of that treaty, 50 research stations had been established for the purposes of exploration; many countries were keen to break new ground, identify and describe geological and geographical features of this vast southern land. The purpose of the Treaty was to ensure Antarctica remained a demilitarised zone be preserved for scientific research.  The Treaty has no expiry date and may be modified but only with the unanimous agreement of all the contracting parties. Inspections of research stations and operations are carried out regularly; in 2020 Australia inspected the operations of 6 different countries with bases in Antarctica.