Belgrano II Base
Belgrano II Base | |
|---|---|
View of Belgrano II, austral summer of 2007 | |
Belgrano II Base Location within Antarctica | |
| Coordinates: 77°52′25″S 34°37′39″W / 77.873696°S 34.627588°W | |
| Established | February 5, 1979 (1978–79 austral summer season) |
| Elevation | 256 m (840 ft) |
| Population (2017) | |
| • Summer | 24 |
| • Winter | 19 |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (ART) |
Belgrano II Base is a scientific research station in Antarctica. It is run by Argentina. It is one of the southernmost research stations in the world. As of 2025, Belgrano II is one of the 13 research stations in Antarctica operated by Argentina.[1]
Location
Belgrano II is located in Coats Land, near the Weddell Sea. The station is built on ice about 1,300 kilometers from the South Pole. It is the southernmost of all Argentine stations.
The base is built on a floating ice shelf called the Berkner Ice Shelf, which is part of the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf. Because it is on ice, the location slowly moves over time.
History
Belgrano II was opened in 1979. It replaced Belgrano I, which was closed because the ice under it became too dangerous. Belgrano II was built using special modules designed to survive in the extreme cold.
Research
The base is used for scientific research in areas like:
- Glaciology (study of ice)
- Meteorology (study of weather)
- Geophysics
- Medicine
- Climate change
It is active all year, even during the long, dark Antarctic winter. Around 20 people live there in summer, and about 15 stay for the winter.
Buildings
Belgrano II has several connected modules (like big containers), which include:
- Sleeping quarters
- Laboratories
- Kitchen and dining area
- Medical room
- Communications room
- The base is built on stilts or skids to help it stay above the snow.
Geography
Belgrano II is on the Berkner Island, which is fully covered in ice. It is surrounded by thick snow and glaciers. The Weddell Sea is nearby, but most of the year it is covered with sea ice.
Climate
Belgrano II has a polar climate, with:
- Very cold winters, temperatures below -40°C (-40°F)
- Cold summers, usually around -10°C (14°F)
- Very strong winds
- Little snowfall, but constant snow drifting
- No sunlight during winter months (polar night)
- 2 4-hour daylight in summer (midnight sun)
Trivia
- Belgrano II is one of the closest stations to the South Pole.
- The base uses renewable energy, including wind power.
- It has its own chapel called “Capilla de San Francisco de Asís” – the southernmost chapel in the world.
- ↑ "Argentine Antarctic Stations". Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013.