Argentine Antarctica
Argentine Antarctica (
Spanish:
Antártida Argentina) is a sector of
Antarctica which
Argentina considers part of its National Territory. The Argentine Antarctic region, consisting of the
Antarctic Peninsula and a triangular section extending to the
South Pole, is delimited by the meridians 25° West and 74° West and the parallel 60° South latitude. Administratively, Argentine Antarctica is a
department of the
province of
Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands. The provincial authorities reside in
Ushuaia and the Governor annually designates his delegate for the Antarctica region, which thus represents the civil power of the zone. There are overlapping claims on this territory by
Chile and the
UK, so the "civil power" of any of the administrators extends no further than that nation's own bases.
The Argentine exploration to the continent started early in the 20th century.
José María Sobral was the first Argentine to set foot on Antarctica in 1901, where he spent 2 seasons with the
Swedish Antarctic Expedition of Doctor
Otto Nordenskiöld. Shortly afterwards, in 1904, the
Orcadas permanent base was already fully operational. Years later other bases would be created, some permanent and others seasonal. The first Argentine expedition to reach the
South Pole was the 1965
Operación 90.
Esperanza and
Marambio are the biggest Argentine bases, holding together 70 buildings, an average of 110 persons during the winter, and over a maximum of 250 during the summer.
Orcadas Base is the world's first base in Antarctica, operating continuously since
1903. The southernmost Argentine permanent base is
Belgrano II, at over 77 degrees south. The southernmost summer base is Sobral, at 1,450 kilometres far from
Belgrano II.
The bases are supplied by the following ships:
Puerto Deseado,
Suboficial Castillo, and
Almirante Irizar, and by
C-130 Hercules and
DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.
Permanent
 |
Argentine bases on the Antarctica (permanent bases in red |
*
Belgrano II, () Laboratory and meteorological station
Argentine southernmost base (since 1979).
*
Esperanza () Laboratory and meteorological station (since 1952). Radio LRA Arcángel, School #38
Julio A. Roca (since 1978), tourist facilities.
*
Jubany, () Scientific station at
King George Island*
Marambio Base Station, () Seymour-Marambio Island. Laboratory, meteorological station, 1.2km long, 30m wide landing track (since
1969) (
website)
*
Orcadas Base ()
Orcadas Islands (since 1903)
*
San Martín Base () (since 1951) Laboratory and Meteorological measurements
Seasonal
*Teniente Camara (
1957) ,
King George Island*Base Deception (
1948) ,
Deception Island*Petrel Air Station (
1967)
Dundee Island*Primavera (
1977) ,
Alejandrina Island*Des. Navy Melchior (
1947 Anvers Island
*Almirante Brown (
1951) , Paradise Bay
*Teniente Matienzo (
1961) , Nunatak Larsen
Camps and other
(64 in all)
*Base
Alférez de Navío Sobral (
1965) , Edith Ronne Land
*Campamento Byers , Byers peninsula
*Estación Científica Ellsworth (ex
USA) (
1958) ,
Weddell Sea *Base Gurruchaga ,
Nelson Island*Campamento Científico Livingston , Livingston Island
|
Caterpillar tractor from the first Argentine expedition that reached the South Pole (1965) |
The Argentine presence in the sector, according to some historical investigations, took place in the second decade of the
19th century; some even affirm that it took place by the end of the
previous century. They were Argentine fishing ships that from the port of
Buenos Aires went to the now called
South Shetland Islands in search of their catch. However, navigators of other countries attributed to themselves the discovery of Antarctica. By the end of the 19th century the aid lent by Argentina to foreign expeditions, in particular that of Nordenskiöld, Gerlache and Charcot, was properly appreciated. There remains as tangible result a series of Argentine place names to Antarctic geographic features: Argentine Islands, Uruguay Islands,
General Roca,
Quintana, and others.
In
1904 the permanent occupation of the Antarctic continent began with the opening of
Orcadas Base in the
South Orkney Islands. Argentina was the only nation to have an Antarctic base for 40 years until the
British built a base on the same islands.
Argentina bases its claims on this sector of
Antarctica on the following grounds:# The Antarctic peninsula is geologically and geographically part of the
Andes.# Argentina has maintained a permanent occupation for more than a century, and controls the oldest base in Antarctica (
Orcadas Station).# Argentina conducts many rescue missions in Antarctica.# Argentina has constructed lighthouses and other navigational aids in Antarctica.# Argentina constructed Antarctica's first airport in
1969.# Argentines form more of Antarctica's population than nationals of any other country.# The first Antarctican was born in
Esperanza Base (Hope Base), namely
Emilio Palma.# Argentina has sent more people to Antarctica than all the other countries together
Argentina's claim to the
Antarctic Peninsula is contested by the governments of
Chile and the UK, although all claims are effectively suspended under the terms of the
Antarctic Treaty.
In
1978, the first Antarctic baby was born in the
Fortín Sargento Cabral at the
Esperanza Base under the name
Emilio Palma. In 1991 there were 142 permanent residents including 19 underages. Residents are composed by families that live in Antarctica or scientists that have lived for more than 2 years. They were 121 men and 21 women that lived mostly in the colony of Esperanza and other bases.
*
Antarctica*
Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands*
Antártica Chilena Province and
XII Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica*
British Antarctic Territory*
Antarctic Treaty System*
Argentine Antarctic Geopolitics*
Argentine Bases*
Marambio Base (Spanish/English)
*
Dirección Nacional del Antártico: Bases*
Argentine Antarctica History (Spanish)
