Hope Bay, Antarctica

Hope Bay on Trinity Peninsula is 5km long and 3km wide. It is seen as an indent at the tip of the Antartic Peninsula and opening on Antarctic Sound. The Bay was discovered on January 15, 1902 by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition under Otto Nordenskiöld, who named it in commemoration of the winter spent there by J. Gunnar Andersson, S.A. Duse, Toralf Grunden, and José María Sobral of his expedition after his ship (the Antarctic) was crushed by the ice and lost. They were eventually rescued by Argentine corvette Uruguay. The ruins of a stone hut built by members of the expedition can still be seen.

The Argentine Base Esperanza is located in Hope Bay. It has some measure of fame because it is the birthplace of Emilio Marcos Palma, the first person to be born in Antarctica. The Base has tourist facilities that are visited by approximately 1,100 tourists each year.

Things to see and do

* Penguin Colonies
* View pack ice and giant icebergs
* Naturalist guided hikes
* Zodiac excursions & sea kayaking
* Whale watching & fur seals

General Information

Cruise Season - Nov - April
Currency - Argentine Peso (ARS)
Language - Spanish
Land Area - 15 km² (Trinity Peninsula)
Population - 55 (winter) approx
Electricity - 2 pin round pins European style
Time - GMT minus three hours
International Country Telephone Code - +54

Port Location - The port of Ushuaia in southern Argentina is used as a base for cruises to Antarctica.

Transport Links - There are daily Aerolineas Argentinas flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. LAN Chile (through its LAN Express services) flies a few times a week (currently three) from Santiago de Chile, stopping over in Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas.