Artigas Base

Artigas Base is a science station in Antarctica. It is from the country of Uruguay. It is a place where scientists do research all year.

Artigas Base
Artigas Base in summer 2019.
Artigas Base
Location of Artigas Base in Antarctica
Coordinates: 62°11′04″S 58°54′14″W / 62.184444°S 58.903889°W / -62.184444; -58.903889
Established22 December 1984 (1984-12-22)
Named forJosé Gervasio Artigas
Elevation
17 m (56 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • Summer
60
 • Winter
8

History

The station was built in 1984. It was the first station from Uruguay in Antarctica. It is named after José Gervasio Artigas, a hero from Uruguay.

Geography

The station is on an island called King George Island. This island is in the South Shetland Islands. It is a place with little ice on the land, which makes it good for science.

Research

Scientists at Artigas Base study many things, including:

  • The weather
  • The ice and glaciers
  • The health of people who live there
  • How human activity affects the environment

About 50 people live at the base in the summer, but only about 8 people stay during the cold winter. During the winter, 8 Uruguayan soldiers live at Artigas Air Base (WAP URY-Ø1), which is at the coldest and most inhospitable continent on the planet.[1]

  1. "Winter at Artigas Base (WAP URY-Ø1)". Worldwide Antarctic Program. Retrieved 2025-09-21.