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- In the Footsteps of Scott Robert Swan reports, with an introduction by the explorer’s son, Sir Peter Scott, describing the challenge of the Antarctic.

- Antarctica The current political, economic, and ecological status of the southernmost continent is outlined by Priit J. Vesilind.

- The Antarctic Challenge Retracing the 1911-12 route to the South Pole of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, a three-man expedition encounters similar risks.

Seals and Their Kin

- From the sunny beaches of California to the frigid shores of Antarctica, wildlife biologist Roger L. Gentry studies pinnipeds the fin- footed walruses, seals, and sea lions.

- An Atmosphere of Uncertainty Are We Poisoning Our Air?; Air: An Atmosphere of Uncertainty Is global air pollution threatening life as we know it? Noel Grove finds man-made contaminants causing rising concern among scientists probing a controversial field. Photographs by Ted Spiegel, paintings by William H. Bond.

- Kayaking the Amazon Through Wild Andes Rapids An international team becomes the first to navigate the fabled river from wild headwaters to mouth. Piotr Chmielinski describes the six-month, 4,000-mile adventure. Photographs by Zbigniew Bzdak.

- The High Andes: South America’s Islands in the Sky In words and photographs, Loren McIntyre explores traditional Indian communities and bustling cities all surviving in thin air amid South America’s loftiest mountains.