Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Britannica Sources used in this answer

When does sea ice cover the Drake Passage?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Map showing the Drake Passage, the body of water between the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. The passage is labeled in orange and is situated between Cape Horn and Antarctica, with surrounding seas and islands such as the South Shetland Islands and South Georgia also marked. A small inset map in the upper right highlights the location of the Drake Passage relative to the continent of Antarctica.
Drake Passage

The Drake Passage experiences seasonal changes in sea ice cover. In late summer, around February, the passage is typically ice-free. However, by September, the maximum ice cover occurs, extending to 60° S latitude and occasionally reaching Cape Horn.1