Drake Passage, a narrow strip of deep waters, separates the southernmost South American island of Tierra del Fuego and the most northern piece of the Antarctic Peninsula. For travelers on Antarctica cruises, the land is a wild landscape perfect for experiencing the continent's rugged conditions.
Albeit small, this narrow stretch of sea represents a key formation, which created great change within the world's biological history.
Before the creation of the passage, which is believed to have occurred between 22 million and 34 million years ago, a narrow strip of land allowed animals to travel between South America and Antarctica. Upon its creation, however, species were cut off from each other, creating the inhabitants that are uniquely suited for the Antarctic's conditions today. While here, travelers will likely see many of the region's endemic wildlife, including the adorable yellow, black and white bodies of emperor penguins, majestic blue whales, and the plump gray bodies of the crabeater seal.
The passage is also home to many species of bloodless fish, which are so named because they lack any detectable type of hemoglobin in their blood. While these local residents are often found beyond the naked eye, their presence marks the particular adaptations the wildlife must undergo to live in these conditions.
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