Box and book together weigh as much as a pair of fur seal pups: 12.5 kilograms.

FORBES: Hint: It costs $2,900, and a seabird is the main character.

We jumped from the imminent attack of one fur seal, into the flappers of another, passing en route the odd bull elephant seal weighing in at about four tons.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The European Union, the other major body seeking observer status, had its application affirmed but "deferred, " a rebuff that is likely related to an unresolved dispute with Canada over the fur seal trade.

CNN: China eyes Arctic options in energy, transport

In addition to its beginning-of-the-world astonishing beauty, expect two active volcanoes, tens of thousands of Southern Elephant Seals (biggies with really big noses), Antarctic and Sub Antarctic Fur Seals, predatory Leopard Seals, the rarer, slender and pale Crabeater, the plentiful Weddell Seal, and the rare, small, sort-of-sexy Ross Seals famous for their trilling and siren-like sounds.

FORBES: Connect