Profesor Julio Escudero Base
The Base Profesor Julio Escudero is a permanent Chilean Antarctic research base located on King George Island. As the primary scientific station for the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), it serves as a critical hub for polar research, supporting both Chilean and international scientists. It lies within the Antártica Chilean commune provided by the Antarctic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.[1]
Julio Escudero Station | |
|---|---|
Julio Escudero Station Location of Julio Escudero Station in Antarctica | |
| Coordinates: 62°12′05″S 58°57′44″W / 62.201382°S 58.962358°W | |
| Established | 5 February 1995 |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2017) | |
| • Summer | 60 |
| • Winter | 2 |
| Website | Base Profesor Julio Escudero (INACH) |
Location and Establishment
The base is situated on Fildes Peninsula, next to Chile's Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Base and within the civilian settlement of Villa Las Estrellas. It was inaugurated on February 5, 1995, and named in honor of Julio Escudero Guzmán, a prominent Chilean jurist. He was a key figure in the legal groundwork for Chile's claim to its Antarctic territory and a collaborator in the drafting of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty System.
Scientific Work and Facilities
The base is a leading center for scientific knowledge generation, focusing on various fields, including:
- Earth sciences and geology
- Environmental studies and climate change
- Biology, microbiology, and molecular biology
Escudero Base provides a range of modern facilities to support these activities, including:
- Multipurpose laboratories
- A wet laboratory and a microbiology lab
- A cold chamber for experiments
- An area for divers
With a capacity to accommodate up to 60 people, the base is a vital logistical and scientific platform for researchers working in the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
- ↑ (in Spanish) Península Fildes, isla Rey Jorge, Base Profesor Julio Escudero and Shetland del Sur Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine