Humans have not evolved or adapted to live here, so we feel like aliens in a foreign land!
Another remarkable thing we noticed is that the wildlife is completely unafraid of us. Since humans did not evolve to hunt Antarctic penguins and seals, they don't see us as a threat. Some people even had penguins waddling up to them and jumping onto their laps for a cuddle! However, as remote as Antarctica is, humans have still had a significant impact, especially during the 19th and 20th centuries in pursuit of whaling and sealing (hunting). More recently, climate change is having an effect on the environment. We have to be more mindful about how we live our lives at home or risk forever changing these pristine wildernesses!
Very few! Antarctica is so inhospitable that people can only survive with the help of imported food and supplies from other parts of the world. No edible plants will grow here, and early explorers had to hunt the local wildlife (seals, penguins and whales) to sustain themselves. They often struggled with scurvy, an illness that you get from not eating enough fruit and veggies.
Nowadays, we are lucky and could visit the Antarctic Peninsula in relative comfort from our small cruise ship, the Ocean Endeavor. We had plentiful food, warm clothes, warm showers and even a spa pool!
The main challenges faced by people living in Antarctica are both the isolation and the cold. It took us two full days to travel (by ship) from South America to just the northern-most tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. There’s a lot to explore further south from here!
