An aerial fly-over reveals some of the long-held secrets of the antarctic continents. From this particular archive I was able to find images of waves on some of the most astounding coastlines. Take for example the left-breaking wave above, peeling along a sandbank deposited by glacial water melting off the glacier’s terminus into the antarctic ocean.

The tundra is a remote and treeless landscape, a place where only small shrubs, sedges, grasses, mosses, and lichens are able to find a way to survive. It is not easy to weather a winter in these parts, but with some experience even the newest residents can appreciate the natural beauty of this unique biome.

To get to the headland below requires one $2,500 plane trip, plus an $8,000 boat ride on a scientific research vessel, and a government permit for any time spent on land here. In the picture there are 16 waves breaking along this particularly nice coastline.

The coldest waters are teaming with sea monsters such as this one. They are very angry, and territorial, and aggressively defensive.

I was surprised to find these two photographs below showing what looks like a point break.

Here’s wishing you a happy new year.