I want to go to the South Pole. Ever since I first read about the ‘Seven Summits’ and the attempts of persons around the world to climb the highest peaks on each of the 7 continents, I have wanted to see Antarctica and climb it’s mountain, Mt. Vinson. Unfortunately my desire to see the bottom of the globe is not unique and the increasing number of cruise ships visiting Antarctica is taking its toll on the continent. Visitors average an alarming 37,000 people every year who travel to the bottom of the globe seeking adventure, solitude or penguins.

Recently the MS Explorer, a cruise ship bearing 150+ passengers to the realm of the penguins, sank after running aground of an iceberg in the waters off of Antarctica. Although all the passengers were safely rescued by a National Geographic ship, the accident only reinforces the need for new regulations on Antarctica tourism. Movies such as “Happy Feet” and “The March of the Penguins” has caused penguin tourism to jump in recent years, which has increased the pressures on penguin colonies. The time that tourists spend visiting Antarctica is relatively short in duration (as compared to those who travel to study the environment or animals there) but comparatively high in the impact that each visitor has on the fragile ecosystem. While there is a growing push to limit the number of tourists to visit each year, it is slow work.

At present the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators provides self-regulation to the number of visitors that they bring to the Antarctic each year and the size of ships that allowed to travel there. Despite this there are accidents every year with ships running aground on uncharted rocks or getting locked into the ice flows. Ship crashes have lead to oil spills, which have devastating impacts on the natural environment where there are no emergency clean-up crews to get the oil off of the water, beaches and wildlife. In the same way, tourists want to see the most beautiful and unique places in Antarctica. These places are usually fragile ecosystems and the high numbers of travelers that visit them can be permanently damaging even when tour operators have the best of intentions.

For now my Antarctica trip will have to wait for a better environmental option. Perhaps National Geographic will someday hire me to go with one of their eco-friendly exibitions? Anything is possible...