Located just north-northeast of Petrel Island in Antarctica’s Géologie Archipelago, Lion Island is a small, uninhabited rocky outcrop named for its distinctive summit shaped like a lion’s head, a resemblance that I failed to see. The French Antarctic Expedition under André Liotard first surveyed and named this rugged formation between 1949 and 1951. Surrounded by the icy waters of Adélie Land, the barren rock stands as a stark natural landmark within the polar seascape.

We circumnavigated the island on a Zodiac tour, during which we encountered spectacular icebergs and bergy bits ranging in color from dull white to vibrant cerulean blue.

The patterns and textures were every bit as varied and beautiful.

Pictured below is a chunk of black ice. It has no trapped air inside, making it exceptionally hard and highly transparent. Before we fished this from the sea, it appeared jet black. That is because we were seeing the black of the ocean below it.

We also encountered a small number of Gentoo penguins, which seemed all too happy to pose for me.