NBP9507
Bransfield Strait, Antarctica...
Visit to March Base King George Island...
Arrival at Marsh Base: To get to Marsh Base
we had to take a Zodiac from the ship. It was impossible to get very
close to the shore, because there were still many bergs in the bay, and
the harbor had ice extending out from the shore for about a half a
mile. The Chileans at the base were concerned about the safety of the
ice. we wore special orange float suits in case the Zodiac capsized or
we fell through the ice. The four of us, Dick Von Herzen, Jim Holik,
Barney, and I had come to the base to pick up some computer equipment
that was needed on the ship. The Chilean Military had flown the
equipment from Chile to the base as a favor to the science research
party. We were the first ship to come to the base this spring.
Marsh Base: Home to Chileans and Russians. Marsh
base is a year round Chilean military base in Antarctica, located on
King George Island. The Chilean government has a number of bases in
Antarctica. The men stationed at the base live there with their
families. There is a school, hospital, church, and places for the men
and their family to have recreation. The school teaches all classes in
English even though the native language of the Chileans is Spanish. The
total population at the base is 52 people. There is a Russian research
base next door to the Chilean base on King George Island. The Russians
are here for scientific research.
Marsh Base Air Field. Nearly all provisions
at Marsh Base arrive by airplane. There is a landing strip on the
island where cargo planes can land. Helicopters also transprt materials
to and from the base. In the event of a medical emergency, helicopters
from the Chilean base have transported US and other foreign science
researchers to hospitals for treatment. The permanant residents of this
island know that cooperation is esential for survival.
The Russian Shop. During the spring and
summer in Antarctica, research ships from all over the world stop at
Marsh base. Some of the Russians have set up small stores in their
homes selling Antarctic momentoes. This is the entrance to one of those
"Shops". We stopped to visit and talk to the owner. In addition to
running his small shop on the side, he was also a doctor at the Russian
base.
Living at Marsh Base. The houses at Marsh Base are large steel boxes that are raised up on piers so that the floors do not touch the ground. Since the ground is frozen year round, if a house were placed right on the ground, the heat from the floor would melt the ground and the house would sink. Building above the ground also enables the entries of the houses to remain free of snow in the winter. The most common form of transport is walking followed by snowmobiles on the base.
Jackson School of Geosciences»
Note: The photos and journals contained in this website were prepared by Steven Stevenoski, science teacher at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin