What's it like to live in Antarctica?

3/15/2019

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Geography Story: What's it like to live in Antarctica?

Due to severe weather conditions Antarctica is called "White Mars'. In 2005 a French-Italian research station "Concordia" was built there. 60 people live and work at the station. Let's take a look what their life looks like.

#1 Extremely low temperatures

Antarctic summer is not warmer than -30 °C (-22 °F). Most bacterial can't live here. To go outside you should wear special shoes, glasses and several layers of clothing. 'Concordia' is located at the height 3 300 m above the sea level. The air here is too thin and lacks oxygen.

#2 Five months of darkness

There's no day and night in Antarctica in the traditional sense. In summer the sky is never dark and in winter there's no sun at all, five months people live in complete darkness. These unusual day and night cycles affect people's health.

#3 In winter the station is totally cut off from the rest of the world

In winter there's no communication with the mainland. In case of emergency, people will have to count on themselves. There is a well-equipped hospital and stores of food.

#4 Time for fun

In their free time station personnel do excursions to their laboratories, play basketball in the snow. Sometimes they answer questions for students and pupils via video link. The job gives an opportunity to communicate with people from Italy, Russia, France, Sweden and Great Britain, get to know their cultures and learn new languages.

#5 The nearest supermarket is 4000 km away

The large-scale cargo is delivered here within 10-14 days by caravan, small cargo is delivered by planes which can operate under low temperatures. That doesn't mean that people do not have enough to eat. Researchers eat fish, meat and dairy products, as well as fruit and vegetables. They also cook their national dishes.

And what do you think about that? Do you have any interesting facts to share? If so, tell us in the comments below, please!

#Geography #knowledge #Nature

What are your thoughts on this subject?

39 Comments

Amar Dhillon

Pretty hostile. Hats off to the bunch of dedicated people who live there and study crucial environmental changes.

Michael Meehan

Shortly after leaving school, I applied to the Met Office as a Temporary Scientfic Assistant, and took an induction course at Stanmore. One of the instructors had spent a tour at Halley Bay, another Antarctic station. I must say that I found it very interesting and was tempted to apply, but being in my late teens and naturally being interested in girls, 6 months appeared to be a long time to deprive myself of such delights.

Julie Allen

Concordia Research Station, which opened in 2005, is a French–Italian research facility that was built 3,233 m (10,607 ft) above sea level at a location called Dome C on the Antarctic Plateau, Antarctica. It is located 1,100 km (680 mi) inland from the French research station at Dumont D'Urville, 1,100 km (680 mi) inland from Australia's Casey Station and 1,200 km (750 mi) inland from the Italian Zucchelli Station at Terra Nova Bay. Russia's Vostok Station is 560 km (350 mi) away. The Geographic South Pole is 1,670 km (1,040 mi) away. The facility is also located within Australia's claim on Antarctica, the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Madi Marven

OMG,I so couldn't live there in those temperatures, I'd just die!!!

garrett lg

SCOTT , and you are the polar police LOL

garrett lg

Karen Ward-Stephens, wow! Best wishes to you. Stay safe and healthy

Bparks

Vincent D'Souza, Why? So the rich and greedy can destroy it? Leave it to them to figure a way to mine or drill there.

c grhm

Several years ago there was a posting on Craigslist for Baker's in Antarctica. I almost went, but after reading this I'm so glad I didn't.

maewall

I lived in Alaska for almost 4 years, not the coldest part by a long shot. But not for lack of trying, because that I did. I would have liked to try this when I was younger. It would have been interesting for a year at least. I love snow and cold.

Renee Ring Seklecki

I was born on Maui, Hawaii. At age 8 we moved to Chicago. 58 degrees the day we landed in the states. I had never been so cold! 12 years there was enough for my lifetime! I live in Arizona now. 100• today!