Research stations in Antarctica
A number of governments maintain permanent research stations in Antarctica and these bases are widely distributed. Unlike the bases set up in the Arctic (see Drifting ice station), the research stations of the Antarctic are constructed either on rock or on ice that is (for practical purposes) fixed in place.
Many of the stations are staffed around the year. A total of 30 countries (as of October 2006), all signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, operate seasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent. The population of people performing and supporting scientific research on the continent and nearby islands varies from approximately 4,000 during the summer season to 1,000 during winter (June). In addition to these permanent stations, approximately 30 field camps are established each summer to support specific projects.
During the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration in the late19th century,
In 1898 Carsten Egeberg Borchgrevink (1 December 1864 – 21 April 1934) a Norwegian / British led the British Antarctic Expedition to Cape Adare where he established the first Antarctic base on Ridley Beach. The expedition occupied their hut which is still in good condition and visited frequently by tourists for 1 year .The expedition is ofter referred to now as the 'Southern Cross' Expedition after their ships name. Most of the staff were Norwegian but the funds for the expedition were British provided by Sir George Newnes. The 10 members of the expedition explored Robinson Bay to the west of Cape Adare by dog teams run by the two Lapps who looked after the and later after being picked up by the ship at the base went ashore on the Ross Ice Shelf for brief journeys.
The hut was later occupied by Scotts Northern Party under the command of Victor Campbell for a year in 1911 after its attempt to explore the eastern end of the iceshelf discovered Amundsen already ashore preparing for his assault on the South Pole.
In 1903, Dr William S. Bruce's Scottish National Antarctic Expedition set off to Antarctica, with one of its aims to establish a meteorological station in the area.
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