Sixth Leg

• Main Author: Bell, Graham
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: Oxford University Press 2022
• Subjects: Antarctic; Kerguelen; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; ice pack; Iceberg*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197541579.003.0012

This book gives an account of the remarkable discoveries that were made during the voyage and describes the strange and bizarre creatures that live in perpetual darkness a kilometre or more below the surface of the sea. The voyage had momentous consequences: not only uncovering a whole vast new range of animals whose existence had never before been suspected, but also initiating the systematic exploration of the oceans. In this chapter, Challenger heads for the Southern Ocean and the ice pack off the coast of Antarctica. She anchors off Kerguelen and the men spend time exploring the island. The dredging is exceptionally successful and hundreds of new animals are caught. Challenger is the first steam-powered ship to cross the Antarctic Circle, but has a narrow escape from collision with an iceberg before reaching harbour in Melbourne.