Antarctic travel in winter

British veteran explorer Ranulph Fiennes earlier this week left South Africa to prepare for the South Pole voyage, a potentially risky journey.

At 68, explorer Ranulph Fiennes started
The first trans-polar journey in winter

According to AFP, in the winter of Antarctica completely submerged in darkness, the average temperature is about -70 ⁰ C for six consecutive months, when the lowest is -90 ⁰ C. The rescue helicopter cannot operate because light and risk of freezing fuel.

The expedition will be the first to cross the Antarctic into the 'mysterious region of the world' from mid-March - the start of winter - to reach McMurdo Sound in New Zealand. The journey is nearly 4,000km. According to historical records, Captain Robert Falcon Scott was the first person to explore Antarctica in the winter of 1912. However, at that time, the group only managed to travel nearly 100km.

On the journey to the Antarctic coast, the delegation will conduct scientific research on marine life, oceanography and meteorology. When crossing the Antarctic, they recorded information about changes and effects of climate change in the polar regions. The purpose of the journey is to raise $ 10 million for a charity fund for the visually impaired.