Chilean Fjords 1/21/24

 Chilean Fjords

Authored by Laurie Hardcastle Seil

Just a little teaser for what we might be seeing as we traverse the Chilean Fjords, making our way north along the west coast of South America. There are about 1,500 km (930 mi) of fjords and fjord-like channels from Cape Horn on the south to Reloncavi Estuary in the north. To give you some distance comparisons the length of the fjords is comparable to sailing from London to Gibraltar, Sydney to Cairns, or New York to Miami.

These least visited of Chile’s landforms were carved from glaciers that flowed toward the sea and then receded. It’s an area that’s mostly untouched and still contains volcanoes and waterfalls along with the glaciers that still flow into the sea. Depending on exactly where we sail, we may see some of these large ice sheets, my fingers are crossed that we do.

Along with the beauty of the land we should be able to see a great variety of wildlife. The possibilities include more penguins, lots of lounging elephant seals, dolphins, and if we’re lucky there’s a chance, we’ll see migrating whales, orcas ply these waters, as do grey whales, oft seen humpback whales, and if we’re really lucky we might see blue whales. That last one would be incredible!

Sunrise here on the fjords can be absolutely glorious so early risers will be in luck. Should be a grand day on what one site described as “a secret wonder of Chile’!