San Martín Base

San Martín Base Base San Martín
Antarctic base
San Martín in 2008 austral winter
Motto: Spanish: Hombres de voluntad, luchan y vencen desde 1951 ("Willing men, fight and win since 1951")
San Martín Base Location within Antarctica
Coordinates: 68°7′47.4708″S 67°6′3.2724″W / 68.129853000°S 67.100909000°W / -68.129853000; -67.100909000Coordinates: 68°7′47.4708″S 67°6′3.2724″W / 68.129853000°S 67.100909000°W / -68.129853000; -67.100909000
Country	Argentina
Province	Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands Province
Department	Antártida Argentina
Region	Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
Location	Barry Island
Settled	March 21, 1951 (1951-03-21) (1950–51 austral summer season)
Named for	José de San Martín
Government
• Type	Directorate
• Body	Dirección Nacional del Antártico
• Operator	Instituto Antártico Argentino
Area	18 ha (44 acres)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population	Summer: 14 Winter: 14
Time zone	ART (UTC-3)
Type	All year-round
Period	Annual
Status	Active and operational
Facilities	Main house Airstrip Heliport Infirmary Chapel Radio station Main and auxiliary power plants Vehicle fleet Vehicle garage Laboratory Workshop (mechanical, carpentry) Deposits

San Martín Base (Spanish: Base San Martín) is a permanent, all year-round Argentine Antarctic base and scientific research station named after General José de San Martín, the Libertador of Argentina, Chile and Perú. It is located on Barry Island, Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula.

At the time of its foundation in 1951, it was the first human settlement south of the Antarctic Circle. As of 2014^[update] it is Argentina's westernmost permanent base.

As of 2014^[update] San Martín is one of 13 research bases in Antarctica operated by Argentina.

The increased Antarctic activity that Argentina developed since 1940, along with the longstanding national interest to exercise effective sovereignty over one of the most remote areas of Antarctica created the need for a scientific station located south of the Antarctic Circle.

In order to transport the personnel and materials to Marguerite Bay, where the new settlement was to be built, the Argentine Navy hired the Santa Micaela. Commanded by Overseas Captain Santiago Farrell, it was a cargo ship belonging to the Argentine shipping company Pérez Companc S. A.. The Santa Micaela left the port of Buenos Aires on 12 February 1951, and on 8 March it anchored at Marguerite Bay. The last part of the trip it was escorted by the Argentine Navy tug ARA Sanavirón.