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A Trip South to Antarctica’s Ross Sea

The Ross Sea, a 1.9 million square mile (3.6 million square km) stretch of ocean off the coast of Antarctica, has been nicknamed “The Last Ocean.” And it’s not just a ploy to get your attention. In 2008, researchers mapped out human impacts on the ocean globally and this small area of the Southern Ocean proved to be the most pristine piece of the ocean left on Earth.

John Weller, a photographer and conservationist, has captured the remote beauty of this ecosystem, highlighting the amazing wildlife, including whales, seals, penguins, fish and krill, and the ice they live alongside. Despite the great distance from civilization, the Ross Sea faces threats from commercial fishing, whaling and extreme climate change.