When the thermometer reads African temperatures and the heat becomes unbearable, the alternative might be to beach yourself where the penguins dare. On these islands you will find the world’s coldest beaches to refresh your mind. Also about what’s happening to the climate. Balaclavas, swimsuits, ice crampons, full-face sunscreen, a waterproof camera case and a power bank (in the extreme cold, your smartphone battery drains quickly). If you are going on a trip to the climatic antipodes of our summer, your suitcase could not be more eclectic.
Falkland: Where Penguins and Sea Unite
Get ready to immerse yourself inside glacial vistas you have so far only seen in documentaries and meet their inhabitants at close range. The Falklands, off Tierra del Fuego, is home to one of the world’s largest penguin colonies. It is an ecosystem similar to Patagonia, where you can see large marine mammals among the waves: in addition to orcas and whales you might spot Commerson’s cephalorhynchus, an extraordinary black and white “panda” dolphin. It is one of the closest lands to the Antarctic Circle that you can visit during the normally dark and rainy austral winter. In case you are interested, the third largest island in the archipelago, Pebble Island, is for sale: the price has not been made public, but you can make your bid, considering that the first owner, John Markham Dean, bought it in 1869 for £400. A real bargain!
Svalbard Islands: The Kingdom of the White Bear.
The peak season awaits you at the other end of the world: in the Svalbard Islands, in the Arctic Ocean between Norway and the North Pole, the sun never sets on the horizon in the summer months. In the realm of the white bear you will find the world’s northernmost sushi restaurant, where you can enjoy salmon nigiri in the country that invented them: it was Norwegian entrepreneur Bjorn Eirik Olsen, in the 1980s, who exported Atlantic salmon to Japan. In the land of fjords, gliding through the ice in a kayak, don’t expect absolute silence. Amid crunching and lapping, you may hear the roar of ice calving off glaciers in the distance, one of the most striking effects that have been accelerated by global warming.
Paddling among Icebergs and Colored Ribbons.
Some of the most striking places to paddle among icebergs include Sermilik Fjord in Greenland, surrounded by wild tundra; Lake Jökulsárlón in Iceland, where chunks of icebergs that have broken off from the nearby Breiðamerkurjökull glacier float by; Conception Bay in Newfoundland, off Bell Island, where there is an “architectural” iceberg carved in the center by the sea, forming a natural pool of dazzling turquoise.
Siberia: A World of Extremes
Siberia is one of the symbols of climate change: images of a polar bear rummaging through garbage in search of food on the outskirts of Noril’sk have gone around the world. If you plan to visit these extreme lands, be prepared for continental weather: in Verchojansk, one of the coldest cities in the world, the thermometer in winter drops 70 degrees below zero, but due to thermal inversions this summer temperatures have reached 23 degrees. Aim for the wilderness to visit one of Russia’s Seven Wonders: Lake Baikal, one of the world’s largest lakes, famous for its frozen surface traversed by an arabesque of streaks. In summer, when it thaws, it allows you to see up to 40 meters deep into its clear waters. It is a mystical place, which in the local Buriati language means “sacred sea.” If you want to try diving into its icy waters, know that according to Siberian tradition, diving into the lake up to your knees would extend your life to 10 years, or 20 if you can dive up to your waist and 30 up to your neck. According to legend, one of the greatest spiritual energy points on earth is located here: the Shaman’s Rock, a 42-meter-high cliff overlooking the lake revered by Buddhists. Before returning home, don’t forget to honor the tradition by tying a colorful ribbon to the sacred poles, which you will find scattered on Olkhon Island.
