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For nearly 50 years, men and women take turns on the French base Dumont d'Urville in Antarctica, to ensure continuity of scientific programs. Including conducting on-site visits from 12 to 15 months, they live well, well beyond their scientific mission, an extraordinary human adventure. Of the ice, isolation, through the organization of life locally confined or local wildlife, discover a poignant testimony of these outstanding scientists.

Live from day to day work of a scientific ornithologist polar. Banding, marking, measuring, installation of tag, or counting birds are part of these tasks to be accomplished each year in order to understand the Antarctic ecosystem. If the ornithologist is a choice offering a contact to the nearest wildlife, it is also often know how to play with the elements, which can be particularly severe in this part of the globe.

High latitudes of the planet are characterized by two polar regions with at least common cold and ice. They have not provided the same story, the same geopolitical status or the same biodiversity. Today all eyes are on the Arctic and Antarctica became symbols of climate change and geopolitical issues in the future.

Come and meet the last continent discovered by man through its fascinating history, its geological formation, climate, special wildlife. The conference will also make you discover the unique status that governs Antarctica, and the attention paid by men in terms of protection but also concerns for the future.

A small island, if isolated from the rest of the world, and yet so endearing. Crowd that one day the soil of South Georgia Island in the heart of the Southern Ocean, can not remain indifferent. Landscapes, peaks over 2000 meters, glaciers, abundant wildlife, history ... Discover this land of contrasts throughout its natural history, but also human.

One of the most beautiful land Polar North: Svalbard, an archipelago halfway between North Cape and the North Pole, which is the largest island of Spitsbergen. It is one of the most northern regions of the world, up to 80 ° north, with an exceptionally mild climate for this latitude and consequent biodiversity.

Flightless birds living in the southern hemisphere, the 19 penguin species are all dependent on the ocean for food, but also to land to breed. They accumulate and special adaptations that allow them to operate in both environments, however, very different. The biology of these species is particularly studied, since, being the end of the food chain, they are bio-indicators of their environment this life.

Five species of seals are found around the Antarctic continent. The smaller the Ross seal, to the largest elephant seals, whose males can reach three tons, discover these mammals in the extreme south. Tough, capable of reaching a thousand meters underwater, they are fascinating because of their large size but also their peaceful attitude.

Single species to breed in the austral winter, the Emperor Penguin has developed a fantastic adaptations to cope with the harsh climate of Antarctica. This bird does not stay so far immune to climatic variations, which have in the past reduced by nearly 50% of the population. It became the flagship species of the Antarctic as well as the polar bear is the Arctic.

Of the 23 species of alcids living in the northern hemisphere, 6 are found in the North Atlantic. Birds of sea, they come ashore only to breed is in huge colonies on steep cliffs or in burrows. Discover the puffins, guillemots, razorbills, or the small dovekie ...

Formidable fighter in the High Arctic, the polar bear has to evolve perfectly suited to this unique environment of the ice where it breeds, and hunting moves. The specter of his death has suddenly given to the polar bear an almost supernatural dimension. But worry about the survival of polar bears, but also and especially examine the evolution necessary to our way of life to ensure the sustainability of the human species.

After two previous expeditions to Antarctica, Ernest Shackleton Irish off again in 1914 in order to walk across the great continent through the geographic South Pole. But it was not counting on the ice, terrible ice barrier that traps the ship thus jeopardizing his expedition. The story of this man, that of his crew and his ship, is probably one of the most fantastic polar adventure of all time ...

Nicknamed the "Australian Nansen," Douglas Mawson discovers the Antarctic alongside Ernest Shackleton in 1908, expedition during which he will make the first ascent of Erebus volcano and also reach the South Magnetic Pole. In 1911, he led the expedition that will explore Australian Aurora over 2000 kms of coastline in appalling conditions and marked by two tragic events. It will be decorated and honored as few others in the history of polar exploration.

Dumont d'Urville, Paul-Emile Victor through the Commandant Charcot, the French did not fail to be present in Antarctica. It is from 1955 under the auspices of the French Polar Expeditions, will be built as the French base Dumont d'Urville, which relayed it to many scientists. More recently the French-Italian Concordia is the result of this commitment French, France that has elevated the world's fifth largest in terms of scientific research.

Amundsen was only seventeen years old when his idol, Nansen made the first crossing of Greenland. He decided that his life will be devoted to cold, adventure and ice. After a hard skier education and morning, he accumulates the most extraordinary exploits, both at the North Pole South Pole, choosing companions in his image: adventurous and methodical, tireless and fraternal.

Take a luxurious trip to the Roaring 50th, which will take you to the city of Ushuaia to Cape Horn. Meanwhile, we will call the Falkland Islands, will visit the thousands of king penguins and elephant seals on the small island of South Georgia, before heading south to the Antarctic Peninsula. From there we travel the Weddell Sea, the South Shetlands, but also the most beautiful sites offered this tongue of land the sixth continent, home to seals, penguins and whales.

It is to a Norwegian archipelago, located halfway between the North Pole and the North Cape, called the Svalbard or Spitsbergen, this slideshow takes you. With over three-quarters of its territory protected, Spitzbergen and a great place to live for many birds and mammals, including polar bears, but also a substantial flora. This archipelago is also characterized by a strong past from the whalers, trappers through coal mining.