Antarcticness at the ends of the world

• Main Authors: Roldan, G, Nielsen, H
• Other Authors: Kelman, I
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: UCL Press 2022
• Subjects: Antarctica; cities; place; tourism; connection; science; Antarctic; Argentina; Parka; Ushuaia; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/46519/; https://eprints.utas.edu.au/46519/1/149057%20-%20Antarcticness%20at%20the%20ends%20of%20the%20world.pdf; https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10143171/

At the southern tip of Argentina stands a sign, proudly proclaiming thecity of Ushuaia as being at ‘the end of the world’ (Figure 3.1). In thebackground, cruise ships come and go, carrying parka-clad visitors wholook to the south with adventure on their minds. For them, this town isnot an ending but a beginning, the starting point of their Antarcticencounters. The port of Ushuaia is a hub of Antarctic activity during thesummer season. Between November and March, the docks heave with amix of Antarctic research and resupply vessels, fishing boats bound for thefar south, and tourist ships that transport more than 70,000 visitors a yearto Antarctica (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators2020). While those tourists return from the white continent with memorycards full of penguins and ice images, and brimming with stories to shareback home, a sense of Antarcticness is not limited to direct encounterswith the continent. The cities from which people depart have their ownstories to tell about Continent Number Seven, and those who live in theAntarctic gateways participate in the performance of southernconnections in a wide range of ways.