Antarctic Sound | Iceberg Alley and Gateway to the Weddell Sea

By Csilla Kiss

Antarctica Iceberg in Antarctic Sound Antarctic Peninsula Shutterstock Secret Atlas

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Antarctic Sound | Iceberg Alley and Gateway to the Weddell Sea

Entering the pristine world of the Weddell Sea is a special moment for explorers setting foot on Antarctica. What makes it even more special is a passage through the incredibly beautiful setting of Antarctic Sound. Nicknamed the Iceberg Alley, the stunning beauty of Antarctic Sound never fails to provide visitors with a sense of otherworldliness that Antarctica is so famous for.

Natural Arch carved in an iceberg Antarctic Sound Antarctic Peninsula Shutterstock Secret Atlas

Origin of the name ‘Antarctic Sound’

The Antarctic Sound’s name is based on Otto Nordenskjöld’s Swedish Antarctic Expedition between 1901 and 1903. The expedition used a sealing ship, Antarctic, and the Sound was named after the ship. Antarctic was the first ship to navigate through the Sound.

The Antarctic Sound is between 13 to 22 km wide and separates the Joinville Island group from the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. A sound is a wide or narrow body of water that can be a recessed portion or inlet of a sea or an ocean. This form of marine geographic formations is generally found along coastlines.

Since the Antarctic Sound is frequently blocked by sea ice, navigating through it is difficult. The Swedish expedition ran into trouble as the Antarctic sank in the Sound after it was caught and crushed by the ice while attempting to relieve the overwintering party on Snow Hill. The ship’s crew reached Paulet Island, and after spending a tough winter, they were rescued in November 1903.

Historical significance of the Antarctic Sound

The Antarctic Sound became famous not only as a gateway to the Weddell Sea but also as the stage for one of Antarctica’s most dramatic survival stories. During Otto Nordenskjöld’s 1901–1903 Swedish Antarctic Expedition, the ship Antarctic—the first vessel to navigate the Sound—was trapped and crushed by sea ice here.

Stranded in the region, the expedition’s members were scattered across three locations: Nordenskjöld’s scientific party wintered at Snow Hill Island, while another group ended up building a stone hut at Hope Bay, and the ship’s crew took refuge on Paulet Island, home to thousands of Adélie penguins. Unaware of each other’s fates, they endured two brutal winters before an Argentine rescue ship, Uruguay, arrived—on the same day that Captain Larsen and his men finally reunited with Nordenskjöld at Snow Hill, a moment still called the Day of Wonders.

This remarkable chapter in Antarctic exploration put the Antarctic Sound, and its surrounding landmarks, on the map as both a challenging route and a historic area of discovery.

Crew aboard the Antarctic in October 1901: Carl Skottsberg, Otto Nordenskjöld, Karl Andersson, Carl Anton Larsen, Erik Ekelöf, Axel Ohlin, and Gösta Bodman

Glaciers and ice formations feeding the Sound

Located on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula and facing the Weddell Sea, the Larsen Ice Shelf is one of the largest ice shelves in Antarctica. Since the Antarctic Sound is close to the Ice Shelf, the chunks of ice breaking off the shelf get pulled into the Sound by wind and current action. For this reason, the Sound is often termed the iceberg alley of Antarctica, and is particularly famous for the drifting table icebergs.

Table icebergs are towering ice chunks with a flat top like a table. They travel north through the Sound, often shattering into hundreds of smaller icebergs, and creating a bottleneck. Besides these behemoths, there are also smaller chunks of ice floating around, which are called ‘bergy bits’ and ‘growlers’.

A tabular Iceberg in the Antarctic Sound Antarctica Shutterstock Secret Atlas

Icebergs and Landscapes near Antarctic Sound Shutterstock Secret Atlas

A series of warm summers in Antarctica from the 1990s and early 2000s caused some dramatic calvings of the ice shelf. At present, the largest remaining section is the Larsen C Ice Shelf (LCIS). Some of the icebergs breaking off from the LCIS are simply gargantuan. Iceberg A-68, one of the most famous ones, was around 5,700 square kilometres in area and 235 metres thick.

The reason behind the ice shelf calving is complex, as there are multiple factors at play. The inland glaciers that feed the Larsen Ice Shelf create a complex glacier-ice shelf system that gets destabilised by warmer conditions. The ice shelves function as braking systems for these glaciers and keep the warmer marine air away from them. For this reason, some scientists consider ice shelves as a ‘cork in the neck of a champagne bottle’.

Studies have pointed out that the flow rate of the connected glaciers has increased two to six times since the collapse of the Ice Shelf. This may cause the glaciers to dump more ice in the Weddell Sea.

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Navigating the Antarctic Sound

Most expeditions travelling to the Antarctic Sound start from Ushuaia, Argentina, and cross the Drake Passage. However, passage through the Sound is only possible if weather and ice conditions remain favourable. It is not unusual for the Sound to remain clogged with ice, making it impossible for ships to pass.

When conditions are favourable and the route is open, the experience is extraordinary — sailing through a maze of towering tabular icebergs, surrounded by the striking silence and power of Antarctica’s frozen wilderness.

Icebergs floating in the Antarctic Sound Antarctic Peninsula Shutterstock Secret Atlas

When to visit the Antarctic Sound

The period between late November and early March in the austral summer is the best time for visiting Antarctic Sound. This is the period when the sea ice retreats, opening up the passage for ships to move easily. In winter, the passage is mostly blocked by sea ice, making it impossible for expedition ships to pass. Note that Antarctic sea ice conditions vary considerably from year to year, making a journey through the Sound uncertain even in the summer months.

What wildlife is in the sound?

The common animal species spotted in the Sound are Adélie and gentoo penguins, leopard seals, and Weddell seals. Among the larger mammals, orca whales can be seen here. Humpback whales that were hunted almost to extinction are also making a comeback in these waters. The area is rich in birdlife, and species like brown skuas, Antarctic terns, snowy sheathbills, and kelp gulls are commonly seen.

Paulet Island, located near the Sound, has a large Adélie penguin colony. Assessments indicate that there are around 100,000 breeding pairs of penguins on the island. You will find thousands of penguins and their chicks busy around the nesting quarters or trekking up the mountainside. Other birds that breed on the island include the imperial shag, kelp gulls, and a small number of snow petrels.

Group of Adelie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae on an iceberg in Antarctic sound Shutterstock Secret Atlas

Adelie Penguins diving in the waters of the Antarctic Sound Antarctica Shutterstock Secret Atlas

Worth mentioning that the deep waters of the Sound are a haven for various deep-sea creatures. Submarines that reached a depth of 1000 metres in the Antarctic Sound have witnessed creatures like giant sea spiders, barrel sponges, Antarctic snail-fish, and the remarkable ‘ice dragon’ fish. What enriches life at such depths is the krill excreta that forms a muddy layer on the seafloor, fertilising the water.

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Adelie penguin within Antarctic Sound Antarctica Shutterstock Secret Atlas

Capturing the magic of the Antarctic Sound

The Antarctic Sound offers unforgettable opportunities for photographers and nature lovers alike. Towering tabular icebergs, dramatic skies, and abundant wildlife create scenes that seem almost otherworldly through the lens.

If you’re lucky enough to visit during the midnight sun, you can capture icebergs bathed in soft hues of pink, gold, and blue. Even overcast days or fog can add a moody, atmospheric quality to your shots. Wildlife — from Adélie penguins to orcas — can often be framed against shimmering water and sculpted ice, creating truly memorable images.

Be sure to dress warmly for long hours on deck, and protect your camera gear from the cold and moisture. And don’t forget to look up from the viewfinder — some of the best memories are those you simply take in with your own eyes.