Adult male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on multi-year ice floes in Franz Josef Land, Russia, Arctic Ocean, Eurasia

Circumpolar star trail with a tree silhouette and a campfire in the background, Emilia Romagna, Italy, Europe

Concentric circumpolar star trail above sand dunes in the Rub al Khali desert, Oman, Middle East

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

The Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic

Lindblad Expeditions guests doing the "polar Plunge" in Port Foster near Whalers Bay inside the caldera on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica. NO MODEL RELEASES FOR THIS IMAGE.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

A small pod of 8 Type B killer whales (Orcinus nanus) in pack ice near Snow Hill Island Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Curious adult leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) approaches Zodiac near Booth Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Molting gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feather detail in Antarctica

Views of the Drake Passage, the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn, Chile and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) surfacing near Zodiac near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chicks covered with mud and guano on Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Lindblad Expeditions guests doing the "polar Plunge" in Port Foster near Whalers Bay inside the caldera on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica. NO MODEL RELEASES FOR THIS IMAGE.

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) tobogganing near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

The Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic

Lindblad Expeditions guests doing the "polar Plunge" in Port Foster near Whalers Bay inside the caldera on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica. NO MODEL RELEASES FOR THIS IMAGE.

Adult Antarctic Minke Whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), also known as the Southern Minke Whale, breaching near the Antarctic Peninsula

Divers Lisa Trotter and Robert Alexander enter the water with a large, curious, female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) near Booth Island on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Full moon (plus 1 day) rising over icebergs in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. MORE INFO This moonrise occurred on January 1, 2010, the night after the blue moon full of December 31, 2009.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult southern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides) on the wing in the Drake passage between the tip of South America and Antarctica. Southern Ocean

Kayaking with a leopard seal near Danco Island, Antarctica

Guests from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer take the Polar Plunge off ice floe in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Researchers from OCEANITES counting penguins from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer (shown here is )working in Antarctica

Full moon (plus 1 day) rising over icebergs in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. MORE INFO This moonrise occurred on January 1, 2010, the night after the blue moon full of December 31, 2009.

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Adult male leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) with Lindblad Expeditions guest in Zodiac

Iceberg detail in and around the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer months, Southern Ocean

The Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic

Lindblad Expeditions guests doing the "polar Plunge" in Port Foster near Whalers Bay inside the caldera on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica. NO MODEL RELEASES FOR THIS IMAGE.

Curious adult leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) approaches Zodiac near Booth Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Divers Lisa Trotter and Robert Alexander enter the water with a large, curious, female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) near Booth Island on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

National Geographic photographer Flip Nicklin from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer in Antarctica

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Lindblad Expeditions guests doing the "polar Plunge" in Port Foster near Whalers Bay inside the caldera on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica. NO MODEL RELEASES FOR THIS IMAGE.

Lindblad Expeditions guests doing the "polar Plunge" in Port Foster near Whalers Bay inside the caldera on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica. NO MODEL RELEASES FOR THIS IMAGE.

Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on the wing in the Drake Passage between the tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern ocean

Iceberg detail in and around the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer months, Southern Ocean

Views of the Drake Passage, the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn, Chile and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) spy-hopping near Zodiac near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Ice held up to the sun near the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer months, Southern Ocean

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) surfacing near Zodiac near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Lindblad Expeditions guests doing the "polar Plunge" in Port Foster near Whalers Bay inside the caldera on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica. NO MODEL RELEASES FOR THIS IMAGE.

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

An adult Brown Skua (Catharacta antarctica) in flight near the Antarctic peninsula in the southern ocean

Full moon (plus 1 day) in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. MORE INFO This moonrise occurred on January 1, 2010, the night after the blue moon full of December 31, 2009.

The Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer operating in and around the Antarctic peninsula in Antarctica

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colonies on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Full moon (plus 1 day) rising over icebergs in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. MORE INFO This moonrise occurred on January 1, 2010, the night after the blue moon full of December 31, 2009.

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colonies on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Adult macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) on Elephant Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica

The Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer in Dahlman Bay in late evening light as the waxing moon rises on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula in Antarctica.

Guests from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer slide down snow-covered hill in Orne Harbor, Antarctica

A small pod of 8 Type B killer whales (Orcinus nanus) in pack ice near Snow Hill Island Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Inside the abandoned Antarctic research British Base "W" on Detaille Island, Lallemand Fjord, Loubet Coast, Antarctica

The Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Ad?lie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) with Lindblad guests in snowstorm at Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea , Antarctica.

Adult gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) trying to avoid hungry chick in Antarctica

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) stalking, then killing and eating an adult gentoo penguin in Paradise Bay, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Guests from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer enjoy a hot asado sandwich prepared by staff at BBQ on an ice floe near Adelaide Island, Antarctica

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Full moon (plus 1 day) rising over icebergs in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. MORE INFO This moonrise occurred on January 1, 2010, the night after the blue moon full of December 31, 2009.

The Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colonies on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Leopard seal, Antarctica

Two adult Humpback whales courting, Vava'u Tonga in the South Pacific

This new born calf with its mother graceful glide together as the mother protects her calf and the calf learns essential behaviour to survive the open ocean. taken in Vava'u Tonga South Pacific

Sperm whale group of juveniles, clicking, Azores Portugal

Humpback female and her calf Vava'u Tonga in the South Pacific, shot with a fisheye lens

Humpback male and female adults courting above the shallow reef, Vava'u Tonga, South Pacific

Fresh water pure ice, Antarctica

New born baby humpback whale calf, white in colour, curious and playful. Vava'u Tonga South Pacific

Guests from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer take the Polar Plunge off ice floe in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) taking flight near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean

Kayaking with a leopard seal near Danco Island, Antarctica

Guests from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer enjoy a hot asado sandwich prepared by staff at BBQ on an ice floe near Adelaide Island, Antarctica

The Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) surfacing near Zodiac near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Inside the abandoned Antarctic research British Base "W" on Detaille Island, Lallemand Fjord, Loubet Coast, Antarctica

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) chick head detail at colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula. There are an estimated 2 million breeding pairs of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic peninsula region alone, perhaps as many as 7.5 million breeding pairs in all of Antarctica. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call. They grow to 68 cm (27 in). The average adult weight of a Chinstrap Penguin is 4.5 kg (10 lbs). Weight can range from 3 to 6 kg (6.6-13.2 lbs), with males being slightly larger and weight varying based on where the penguin is in the breeding cycle. Their diet consists of krill, shrimp, and fish. On land they build circular nests from stones, and lay two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of five to ten days. They can also breed on icebergs, though they prefer non-icy conditions. The chicks hatch after about 35 days, and have fluffy gray backs and white fronts. The chicks stay in the nest for 20?30 days before they go to join a creche. At around 50?60 days old, they moult, gaining their adult plumage and go to sea. The Chinstrap Penguin was first described by German naturalist Forster in 1781. Its specific epithet was often seen as antarctica, however a 2002 review determined the genus Pygoscelis was masculine, and hence the correct binomial name is Pygoscelis antarcticus.

Sun seastar, Antarctica

Full moon (plus 1 day) rising over icebergs in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. MORE INFO This moonrise occurred on January 1, 2010, the night after the blue moon full of December 31, 2009.

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Lindblad Expeditions guests on board the National Geographic Explorer with a lone adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice, Antarctica

Red and green algae-covered snow on Petermann Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Lindblad Expeditions guests doing the "polar Plunge" in Port Foster near Whalers Bay inside the caldera on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica. NO MODEL RELEASES FOR THIS IMAGE.

A small pod of 8 Type B killer whales (Orcinus nanus) in pack ice near Snow Hill Island Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Point Wild on Elephant Island, heavy storm clouds and ice choked waters, Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands, Southern Ocean, Antarctica