13. Brown Bluff

13.Brown Bluff

63º32´00´´S, 56º52´00´´W

East coast of Tabarin Peninsula on the south-western coast of Antarctic Sound.

Latest Revision: 2013

Key Features

- Towering red brown tuff cliffs
- Adélie and gentoo penguins
- Geological features
- Continental landing

Description

TOPOGRAPHY

1.5km long cobble and ash beach rising increasingly steeply towards towering red-brown tuff cliffs which are embedded with volcanic bombs. The cliffs are heavily eroded, resulting in loose scree and rock falls on higher slopes and large, wind eroded boulders on the beach. At high water the beach area can be restricted. Permanent ice and tidewater glaciers surround the site to the east and west occasionally filling the beach with brash ice.

FAUNA

Confirmed breeders: Adélie penguin, Cape petrel, Gentoo penguin, Kelp gull, Skua, Snow petrel.

Regularly haul out: Weddell seal.

Seen off-shore: Leopard seal.

Suspected Breeders: Southern Fulmar, Southern giant petrel, Wilson’s storm-petrel.

FLORA

The lichens Xanthoria spp. and Caloplaca spp. are present on exposed boulders from the shoreline to an elevation of 185m. Some mosses are present at higher elevations near glacial drainage.

OTHER

Hazardous rocks and reefs lie immediately off shore.

Visitor Impact

KNOWN IMPACTS

None.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

Disturbance of wildlife, especially kelp gulls. Disturbance to moss and lichen on moraine.

Landing Requirements

SHIPS*

Max pax on board: 500
Ships per day: 3

VISITORS

Maximum number of visitors at any time, exclusive of expedition guides and leaders: 100
Visitors per guide: 20
Curfew time period (from/to), in order to establish a rest period for wildlife: 22:00-04:00
Comments: Maximum 3 ships per day (midnight to midnight), of which no more than 1 may be a vessel carrying more than 200 passengers.

Visitor Area

LANDING AREA

The eastern end of the beach, to the east of the three large boulders at the western end of the snow slope - protected by two reefs.

CLOSED AREA

Closed Area A: Kelp gull colony in the boulder area behind the landing beach, extending from the three large boulders up the small gully running south-southeast behind the moraine ridge.
Closed Area B: The area between the western Adélie penguin colony and the sea, including the beach.

GUIDED WALKING AREA

Elevated areas behind the landing beach: Visits to the snow petrel nests on the slopes behind the penguin rookeries should be done in closely guided groups with a ratio of 1 guide to 12 passengers – where the guide knows the location of the nests in advance. Care should be taken not to disturb loose rocks. Visits to the area between the eastern Adélie penguin colony and the sea should be closely supervised.
The route along the moraine ridge along the edge of the snow slope to the east of the landing beach should be marked, or visitors guided, to avoid disturbance to skua nests up on the high ground.

FREE ROAMING AREA

Visitors may roam freely along the main flat beach area between the landing site and the closed areas. Note: the littoral zone up to the high tide mark is often used as an access route by Adélie penguins. Visitors should avoid the littoral zone.

Visitor code of conduct

BEHAVIOUR ASHORE

All visits are to be conducted in accordance with the General Guidelines for Visitors to the Antarctic.
Take care not to displace penguins along the shoreline.
Take care not to disturb kelp gull nesting sites.
Visitors should remain above the high tide mark and at high water be aware it may be necessary to have visitors walk in small groups escorted by guides.

CAUTIONARY NOTES

Strong and katabatic winds are a feature of this area, and pack and brash ice are frequently blown onto the beach area. Rock falls occur from the cliffs and steeper scree slopes. The primary landing beach may be crowded with wildlife. Landing beach is prone to swells from the north and the north-east.

Aerial view of Brown Bluff

13. Brown Bluff

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