Grytviken
Today we steamed in to Grytviken whaling station as early morning coffee was being served. Grytviken, is a Norwegian word referring to the seal oil try-pots (metallic pots used on a whaler or on shore to render whale oil from blubber) found there by Captain Larsen in 1902. Larsen was the master of the ship Antarctica, belonging to Nordenskjold expedition. He returned to South Georgia in 1904 with Argentine financial support to set up what became the beginning of the modern Antarctic whaling industry.
Our day’s activities were dominated by reminders of Ernest Shackleton’s epic Antarctic journey, which culminated in his crossing from Kong Haakon bay over the glaciers to finally reach Stromness whaling station. Our walk from Fortuna bay to Stromness follows the final footsteps of this arduous journey of survival and rescue.
In the late afternoon we returned to Grytviken to visit what has become a monument to Antarctic history, and a symbol of the end of an era of unchecked exploitation of the world’s large whales. We visited the Boss’ grave raising a toast to the memory of an exceptional explorer and leader of men.
Today we steamed in to Grytviken whaling station as early morning coffee was being served. Grytviken, is a Norwegian word referring to the seal oil try-pots (metallic pots used on a whaler or on shore to render whale oil from blubber) found there by Captain Larsen in 1902. Larsen was the master of the ship Antarctica, belonging to Nordenskjold expedition. He returned to South Georgia in 1904 with Argentine financial support to set up what became the beginning of the modern Antarctic whaling industry.
Our day’s activities were dominated by reminders of Ernest Shackleton’s epic Antarctic journey, which culminated in his crossing from Kong Haakon bay over the glaciers to finally reach Stromness whaling station. Our walk from Fortuna bay to Stromness follows the final footsteps of this arduous journey of survival and rescue.
In the late afternoon we returned to Grytviken to visit what has become a monument to Antarctic history, and a symbol of the end of an era of unchecked exploitation of the world’s large whales. We visited the Boss’ grave raising a toast to the memory of an exceptional explorer and leader of men.
