|
|
|
|
|
Moving from the subantarctic to the cool temperate
zone, our next stop is Ile Saint Paul (St. Paul Island), a small
island that is the peak of a huge volcanic seamount in the midst of
the Indian Ocean. Part of the main crater has collapsed and flooded
to form a distintictive crescent-shaped, steeply sloped island. The
island is also part of TAAF and the French maintain a cabin for
scientists to live in while doing research there, but there is no
permanent population. |
As we approach the interior of the flooded crater, the
walls on the opposite rise in rugged greenery.
|
|
|
|
Our landing site, next to the cabin. Crates of supplies
are stacked on the shore.
|
In the rocky edge of the collapsed wall, two Antarctic
terns engaged in mating displays battle the strong winds.
|
|
|
|
As we climb to visit a rockhopper penguin colony, we
pass two young fur seals that gaze curiously at us.
|
Stone ruins mark two abortive attempts to settle on
Saint Paul in the past. At lower right are the remnants of a rock
lobster cannery that operated from about 1910 to 1930. Notice the
barrel-shaped plugs of cement that lie in a heap on the shore;
they were brought by a ship that had the misfortune of them
getting wet in passage.
|
|
|
|
The Shokalskiy at anchor off Ile Saint Paul.
|
The view from 100 meters up shows clearly the collapsed
crater wall and the adjoining fragment that is so much taller.
|
|
|
|
|
|
