Sailing on Milford Sound, New Zealand
February 26, 2015 by admin
Filed under Travel destinations
It is a bright, crisp, sunny morning on the southern tip of the South Island of New Zealand. We are about to sail on the Milford Sound. It is one of the world’s prettiest fjords…but why tell you about it when we can show you! There is our ship. (click on photo to enlarge it.) Let’s board.
Aside: Do you know who the first European to settle in Milford was? Donald Sutherland…I know, I know. It is a different Donald Sutherland than the actor we are both thinking of, but still quite interesting don’t you think.
But I digress. We are already out on the water.
Quite dramatic, eh.
Look up!
Way up!
Yes, up there. Any guess how high that is?
Can’t you just picture a glacier pushing its way through here so many years ago.
Aside: Sound or fjord, what is the difference?
Our brochure answers this (quote from the realjourneys visitor information brochure)
A fjord is an ice-carved valley-typically narrow and steep sided-that has been flooded by the sea after the glacier’s retreat. A ‘sound’ in contrast is a river valley flooded by the sea following a rise in sea levels or depression of the land.
So that means Milford Sound is misnamed…it should be Milford Fjord.
Oh, Keep your eyes open for penguins.
Yes, I am serious. There was a sign about the rare penguins found in the sound so be on a lookout.
Hint: click on this (or any other photo on this page) to enlarge it.
Does the scenery seem to be changing?
Of course…we are heading for open water!
Now, what ocean/ sea might this be? Pacific Ocean? Antarctic Ocean? Tasman Sea?
Ready for Part 2 of our journey on Milford Sound?
Click here to continue.
(By then I might have researched the correct name of all that open water!)
