Sunday, January 22, 2017

Fjords

Fjords (Dec 2, 2016)

Dec 2 (Fri) - Fjords
            Today we explored Fiordland National Park on the southwest coast of New Zealand's south island. We saw Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Dusky Sound. Actually they are fjords, not sounds. Sounds are valleys formed by sea water flooding an area; Fjords are valleys carved out by glaciers then flooded by sea water. 



Milford Sound
          We got up early, dressed, had breakfast and were out on the deck by 7 AM as we entered Milford Sound. It was cold and windy, but it was a clear day so we could see the tops of the mountains and the glaciers that were there. Milford Sound is a 10-mile-long fjord famous for its tall mountain peaks. The ship went to the end of the fjord, turned around, then went back out, giving a good view from all sides of the ship. 
Milford Sound
Milford Sound glacier
Milford Sound waterfall
Doubtful Sound
          After lunch we returned to our observation point to see Doubtful Sound. Doubtful Sound was named by Captain James Cook in 1770 when he looked at the narrow entrance and was doubtful he could enter and exit the sound safely. Our voyage took us up Thompson Sound, around an island and out through Doubtful Sound.
Doubtful Sound
Two travelers of Sound mind
Mountain on Doubtful Sound
Dusky Sound
          The last fjord we visited was Dusky Sound. This had a lot of rocky islands, especially on the exit at the top of the sound. It was very pretty.

Dusky Sound
Waterfalls on Dusky Sound
Outlet of Dusky Sound
Over night we sailed around the south tip of the south island to go up the east coast.

To be continued:

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