"Foyn Harbor/Nansen Island/Governǿren II" Top 5 Page for this destination Antarctica Things to Do Tip by 850prc

Our visit to Foyn Harbor came on a snowy afternoon, and afforded some very eery peeks at how powerful and cold Antarctic winters are. Even though the temperatures were still very tolerable, the increased snowfall and the blowing wind made it tough to see great distances ahead of us.

Foyn Harbor is location in/on Nansen Island (64°33'S, 62°03'W), and is the sight of a (nearly) century-old shipwreck. The area was teeming with wildlife, including flocks of Antarctic Cormorants, kelp gulls and groups of fur and crabeater seals. We eventually came to the shipwreck. The vessel itself is the Norwegian whaler Governǿren II, and it sank during the summer of 1915/16. Basically, the ship caught on fire and the captain deliberately beached it to save his crew. The plan worked, as there was no loss of life in the sinking - the crew was picked up by other whalers in the area.

Right after we returned to the ship, some 20 humpback whales were sighted just off the ship, and we spent a while on the snowy deck watching them blowing, rolling and showing their flippers and fluke. Amazing animals.

Address: 64°33'S, 62°03'W