What is the West Wind Drift?

The West Wind Drift, or the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, is a gigantic oceanic current which circulates the Antarctica as an endless circle. It is assumed to have a volumetric flow of 20 times the flow of Gulfstream, and it is located between the 50th and 55th latitudes South.

The prevailing winds at the area are Westerlies, and as there are no continents to impede the winds, the usual wind speed is around 40 to 50 knots. It forms a part of the Clipper Route (the Three Capes' Route - Cape Agulhas in Africa, Cape Leeuwin in Australia and Cape Horn in South America) and it is even today the fastest way to circumnavigate the globe on sail.

The West Wind Drift is a cold current, and it isolates the Antarctica from the rest of the world's weather systems. This isolation is the reason why Antarctica has a permanent ice cover, and why the temperatures at the Southern hemisphere are lower than at the corresponding latitudes on the Northern hemisphere.

The oceans at the area of the West Wind Drift are extremely rich on nutrients, and are an important source of fish, inkfish and other seafood.