Traffic in Antarctica

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Antarctica Route 1
Icebreaker
Airplane ( Lockheed C-130 ) with ski runners

The traffic in the Antarctic has, changed thanks to modern technologies of heroic explorers who crossed the isolated and remote areas of Antarctica on foot to a more convenient and faster way to travel on land and especially in air and water. Transportation systems in a remote area like Antarctica must withstand extremely low temperatures and persistent winds to ensure the safety of the traveler. Due to the fragility of the environment, only a limited amount of traffic can take place; In addition, ecologically compatible means must be used to reduce the ecological footprint . Currently, thousands of tourists and hundreds of scientists use the Antarctic transport system every year.

Land transport

Replica (2002) of the Antarctica I

Land transport in Antarctica is usually done on foot (with skis or snowshoes ) or vehicles ( tracked vehicles such as snowmobiles and bulldozers and, in the past, dog sleds ). In addition to sled dogs as draft animals, Siberian ponies , sails, drag kites or human muscle power are or were occasionally used.

In 1964, Australian Mawson Station began using a range of VW Beetles , the first production car to be used in Antarctica. The first model was named Antarctica 1 . However, the few, poor quality and often snow-drifted roads severely limited the possible uses. One of these roads is the South Pole Traverse , a roughly 1,450 kilometer long road that connects the American McMurdo Station on the coast with the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station .

There is an uneven snow slope between the Russian Mirny station and the Vostok station. It is used to supply the Vostok station with food, fuel and other goods every year. For these transports in particular, the Kharkovchanka tracked vehicle, one of the few land vehicles specially developed for the Antarctic, was used.

Water transport

The only port in Antarctica is at McMurdo Station . Most coastal stations have anchorages off the coast, from where goods are brought ashore in smaller boats, barges or helicopters. Some stations have simple shipyard facilities. All ships at anchor may be inspected according to Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty .

A number of excursion boats, from large motor boats to yachts and expedition cruise lines , visit the Antarctic Peninsula during the southern summer (primarily January through March). The majority of them are based in Ushuaia , or use this port as a starting point.

air traffic

Most of the traffic in Antarctica is generated by air traffic, here planes and helicopters are used. There are 27 landing sites for helicopters at state stations, two additional ones are provided by private companies (as of 2003). Almost every station has a kind of flight strip, which often consists of gravel, ice or compressed snow.

Airports in the Antarctic are subject to strict restrictions due to extreme geographical and seasonal conditions; they do not achieve ICAO standards and an approach permit must be obtained from the respective organization.

The Australian airline Skytraders , among others, maintains civil transport connections and uses an Airbus A319 aircraft .

Web links

Commons : Transport in Antarctica  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Reinhold Messner : Antarctica - Heaven and Hell at the same time. 3rd edition, Piper, Munich / Zurich 1991, ISBN 3-492-03347-4 .
  2. Antarctica: the trek of the daring. GEO , No. 1, 2004.
  3. Operations. Skytraders, accessed December 6, 2018 .