
90% of all the world's ice is found here
This frozen world is largely deserted
until the start of spring
Adelie penguins in a hurry
The clock is ticking
Instead of waiting for the summer melt
the new arrivals hasten south over the frozen sea
They have come here to breed
but polar summers are so short
they must be in position before the thaw starts
As the sea ice retreats
life can journey farther south
Antarctic waters are so rich
that visitors come from far and wide to harvest them
Vast numbers of chinstrap penguins come ashore to breed
No bird will lay their eggs directly onto ice
so bare rock is a vital commodity
The best patches are worth the climb