Yalour-Inseln
Atemberaubende Bergkulissen und rauschende Adeliepinguinkolonien
Informationen über Yalour Islands
The Yalour Islands (also sometimes called Jalour Islands) are a 1.5-mile long group of small islands and protruding rocks off Cape Tuxen in Graham Land. The islands were discovered and named in 1903 by the French Antarctic expedition led by Charcot.
Most of the Yalour Islands are steep-sided or unsuitable for landing due to sea conditions, but the largest island has some cobbled beaches where you can put ashore.
Visitors come here to make the short climb up from the beach to the Adelie penguin breeding colonies. There are thought to be around 8,000 breeding pairs of Adelies in the Yalour Islands, and they have nested on every bit of rock they can find that’s not snow-covered. It makes for an amazing sight as you come in to land on the beach!
Photographic opportunities here are excellent. The high mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula form a stunning backdrop to shots of the Adelie nest sites. Your expert guides will lead you around, showing you the best sites, and answering all your questions about the penguins and their lives.
As Adelie Penguins have decreased in numbers just to the north at locations like the Petermann Islands, the Yalour Islands have become a popular location to see this species. Even if it is a challenge to get ashore with the swell, or, the snow banks earlier in the season, the colonies are easily observed from a Zodiac. The area can be a good spot for seals, and for Humpback Whales offshore.
Interessante Fakten über Yalour Islands
Die Stätte ist als eine der südlichsten aufgezeichneten Eselspinguin-Kolonien bekannt, ebenso wie eine Reihe anderer bestätigter Brutvogelarten und eine beträchtliche Abdeckung von Moosen und Flechten. Die Besucherzahlen sind in den letzten Jahren gestiegen und erreichten in der Saison 2013/14 einen bisherigen Höchststand von 1.953 Besuchern. In dieser Sommersaison wurde die Stätte 27 Mal besucht und gehörte kurzzeitig zu den zwanzig meistbesuchten Orten.