The history of Deception Island is one that started with a hunting party and, for the most part, ended with a British World War II base camp. In between and after, the island has remained as a frigid symbol of isolation and remote awareness that taking a trip here requires being cut off, for the most part, from the surrounding world. Getting there is no easy feat and involves the experienced and keen instincts of a crew who is well-versed in navigating these choppy and rough waters, making the journey even more of a challenge for those who don't do well with boats.
The cost to visit is expensive and while it might seem like a trip with little redeeming qualities, that would be very far from the truth - Deception Island, in itself, is a fascinating enigma. There are things about the island that many people don't know and, in accordance with its name, are quite deceptive. The island itself is actually teaming with life and while most think of this small piece of land as being one solid island, it's actually not. This is the mystery of Deception Island, unraveled for those who have always been intrigued by its alluring reputation.
Deception Island's Dark Past
It's said that Deception Island is one of the most haunted places in Antarctica and with the past that it has, it's fairly easy to see why. Once known as a haven for whalers, this island has seen bloodshed due to a whaling industry that once took the lives of many marine animals, which eventually ended during the Great Depression. Visitors who go to the island are greeted with a morbid reminder of this as many whale bones remain half-buried in volcanic sand on the island's shores to this day.
When faced with a landscape like this, suddenly, the past doesn't feel so distant. Prior to the island being used as a whaling destination, which officially ended in 1931, the island was used for seal hunting during the early 1800s. During the span of fewer than ten years, so many seals were hunted that the population faced the danger of extinction, after which the island was abandoned for the first time before whalers moved in for oil production during the 20th century.
The Island Was Once A Volcano That Rose Up Out Of The Sea
It's tough to notice unless you're up close but the island was once a volcano that towered above the surrounding water. The island's volcanic shores are evidence of that, however, along with its center - which has since fallen into the sea due to the unsteady nature of the ground below and the caldera which was flooded soon after. This center collapse is what gives the island its unique shape and also accounts for its name, 'Deception.' While the island appears to be flat, even land, from directly above, the center depression and flooded shape is easily visible. The island is covered with ice in some parts and left unfrozen in others due to the volcanic heat underlying the ground below.
Getting to the island is quite a challenge as the rough waters surrounding do not make it easy. When the final push of the journey is reached, visitors use Zodiacs to disembark from ships and boats in order to reach the mainland, according to Beautiful World, traveling through a channel called Neptune's Bellows, which is said to be one of the most natural harbors on the planet.
Yes, Deception Island Is Still Very Much An Active Volcano
Despite the fact that it appears to be very dormant and unthreatening, the signs of Deception Island's volcanic activity can be found in the mass amounts of steam that are released from its center when an underwater eruption occurs. This steam comes from the sea as it boils when magma erupts below, and while many volcanos around the world can be monitored, that which exists under Deception Island is completely unpredictable due to the amounts of ice that surround it.
Aside from that, the island itself is quite a geographical wonder. It's home to a natural lagoon called Kroner Lake, which is the only geothermal pool in Antarctica. Port Foster is the large body of water that visitors sail into upon first reaching the island and within that is Whaler's Bay, which is a smaller alcove just to the right as visitors make their way through Neptune's Bellows. Around Port Foster is a ring of peaks and mountains of which Mount Pond is the highest summit, topping out at just over 1,768 feet.