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29-540: At the time of its foundation in 1951, it was the first human settlement south of the Antarctic Circle . As of 2014 it is Argentina's westernmost permanent base. As of 2014 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

58-634: A 41,000-year period, due to tidal forces resulting from the orbit of the Moon . Consequently, the Antarctic Circle is currently drifting southwards at a speed of about 14.5 m (48 ft) per year. The Antarctic Circle is the northernmost latitude in the Southern Hemisphere at which the centre of the sun can remain continuously above the horizon for twenty-four hours; as a result, at least once each year at any location within

87-429: A point, part of the midnight sun may be seen on the night of the southern summer solstice up to about 50 minutes (′) (90 km (56 mi)) north of the Antarctic Circle; similarly, on the day of the southern winter solstice , part of the sun may be seen up to about 50′ south of the Antarctic Circle. That is true at sea level; those limits increase with elevation above sea level, although in mountainous regions there

116-411: A seasonal basis. In previous centuries some semi-permanent whaling stations were established on the continent, and some whalers would live there for a year or more. At least eleven children have been born in Antarctica, albeit in stations north of the Antarctic Circle. Download coordinates as: The circumference of the Antarctic Circle is roughly 16,000 kilometres (9,900 mi). The area south of

145-1183: A site are that it should fulfil one or more of the following criteria: Upload another image Upload another image Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image Upload another image Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image Upload another image See more images Upload another image Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image See more images Upload another image Upload another image See more images Upload another image Upload another image Upload another image See more images This monument

174-547: Is a protected location of historic interest on the continent of Antarctica , or on its adjacent islands. The list of historic sites was first drawn up in 1972, and has since expanded to cover 95 sites, with the most recent listed in 2021. Five sites have been removed from the list for various reasons. Historic Sites and Monuments are protected under the Antarctic Treaty System , as one of three classes of Antarctic Protected Areas . The criteria for listing

203-694: Is an Argentine Antarctic refuge installed and operated by the government of the Tierra del Fuego Province . The refuge was opened in 1995 and it is located 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) from the San Martín Base on the glaciers of the Fallières Coast . The construction of the refuge was part of the scientific project, called Perito Moreno, carried out under an agreement signed between the Instituto Antártico Argentino and

232-545: Is located on nearby Uspallata Glacier ; during winter the deeply frozen sea is also used to land light aircraft. The 20 m (220 sq ft) infirmary and basic operating suite is attended by a doctor and a nurse; it has one bed, x-ray and odontological facilities. San Martín is responsible for the maintenance of several Argentine-built refuges in the area: 17 de Agosto , El Plumerillo , Paso de los Andes , Chacabuco , Yapeyú , Maipo and Nogal de Saldán . The LASAN laboratory (LAboratorio SAN Martín), managed by

261-575: Is often no direct view of the true horizon. Mirages on the Antarctic continent tend to be even more spectacular than in Arctic regions, creating, for example, a series of apparent sunsets and sunrises while in reality the sun remains below the horizon. There is no permanent human population south of the Antarctic Circle, but there are several research stations in Antarctica operated by various nations that are inhabited by teams of scientists who rotate on

290-568: The ARA Bahía Aguirre anchored at Marguerite Bay bringing a relief crew through a Sikorsky S-51 helicopter transfer, the first of its kind performed by the Argentine Armed Forces in Antarctica. On 30 June 1952 a fire, exacerbated by the ongoing blizzard , devoured the main house and two food stores, the power plant and the radio station. With rationed food and fuel, activities continued normally, carrying on with

319-606: The Argentine Antarctic Institute , carries out active scientific research in the areas of geomagnetism , riometry , meteorology, ionospheric surveying through high altitude weather balloons , phytoplankton biology , satellite geodesy , glaciology , etc. An ongoing bilateral agreement between Argentina and Germany has prompted cooperation on glacier movement observations. Refuge Ona ( 68°06′02″S 67°01′30″W  /  68.1005°S 67.024972°W  / -68.1005; -67.024972 )

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348-538: The University of Freiburg in Germany. The researchers carry out studies on the displacement of glaciers and the dynamics of the snow layers. The shelter has a capacity for four people, food for 30 days, fuel, gas and first aid kit. The San Martín base has a polar climate that is moderated by its coastline position, hence having a 1.6 °C (34.9 °F) mean for the mildest month. The most significant feature in

377-570: The 25 metres (82 feet) high rhombic antenna. San Martín was inaugurated on 21 March 1951, in the presence of the Santa Micaela and ARA Sanavirón crews and the base personnel led by then Colonel Hernán Pujato . Since then, the meteorological station within the base provides detailed weather records and develops forecasts indispensable for the navigation of the sea waters adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula. In March 1952

406-461: The Antarctic Circle the centre of the sun is visible at local midnight , and at least once the centre of the sun is below the horizon at local noon. Directly on the Antarctic Circle these events occur, in principle, exactly once per year: at the December and June solstices , respectively. However, because of atmospheric refraction and mirages , and because the sun appears as a disk and not

435-609: The Chilean Navy cutter Yelcho commanded by Pilot Luis Pardo Villalón rescued the 22 men from the Shackleton Expedition who survived the wreck of the ‘Endurance’ living for four and one half months in this Island. The Monolith and the plaques have been placed on Elephant Island and their replicas on the Chilean bases Capitan Arturo Prat (62°30'S, 59°49'W) and President Eduardo Frei (62°12'S, 62°12'W). Bronze busts of

464-566: The Circle is about 20,000,000 km (7,700,000 sq mi) and covers roughly 4% of Earth's surface. Most of the continent of Antarctica is within the Antarctic Circle. Starting at the prime meridian and heading eastwards, the Antarctic Circle passes through: 66°33′50″S 0°0′0″W  /  66.56389°S -0.00000°E  / -66.56389; -0.00000  ( Prime Meridian ) Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica A Historic Site or Monument (HSM)

493-463: The area's climate is the violent wind, with speeds well in excess of 200 km/h (120 mph), which significantly increases the chill factor ; such strong winds often blow for five or six days in a row, making it impossible to stay outdoors and turning any simple external work into a very dangerous task. The temperature is variable: on average it reaches −37 °C (−35 °F) in winter and 8 °C (46 °F) in summer. The sea freezes between

522-574: The base, a cross, a flagpole and a monolith erected in 1951, have been designated as Historic Site or Monument , following a proposal by Argentina to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting . Marguerite Bay opens on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Wide and deep, the bay is closed between Belgrano and Alexander I islands, and the Fallieres Coast , making its access very difficult for most of

551-711: The bay. They also crossed the Antarctic Peninsula mountain range, reaching the Mobiloil Inlet on the Weddell Sea . In 1960 the base was closed; it was reactivated as permanent on 21 March 1976. On 14 June 1962 an expedition led by then First Lieutenant Gustavo Adolfo Giró Tapper left Esperanza looking for a passage that would link the village with San Martín. Using snowcats and sleigh dogs they explored Duse Bay , Prince Gustav Channel , Cape Longing , Foca Nunataks , Ameghino Peninsula , Jason Island , Cape Robinson and Carreta Bay , where they had to leave

580-663: The equivalent polar circle in the Northern Hemisphere , the Arctic Circle . The position of the Antarctic Circle is not fixed and currently runs 66°33′50.2″ south of the Equator . This figure may be slightly inaccurate because it does not allow for the effects of astronomical nutation , which can be up to 10″. Its latitude depends on the Earth's axial tilt , which fluctuates within a margin of more than 2° over

609-513: The explorations schedule as originally planned. During the 1952–53 season, thick ice blocked the way of relief ships, which aggravated the situation for the twenty base inhabitants. On 26 March 1953 the Argentine Air Force Avro Lincoln nicknamed Cruz del Sur airdropped food and other priceless items. Personnel at San Martín Base conducted several exploration expeditions to the northern and southern boundaries of

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638-466: The months of June to November, its average thickness being about 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in). The average annual snowfall is 500 mm (20 in); some rains have been recorded in recent years. Antarctic Circle The Antarctic Circle is the most southerly of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of Earth . The region south of this circle is known as the Antarctic , and

667-625: 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

696-480: 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 . Over twelve working days the crew built the two-story main house with double wooden walls, a main deposit, an emergency house, five metal warehouses for supplies, housing for the dog packs, a power generator and the four towers for

725-432: The snow cats and continue with sleds to cross the cordillera. After reaching San Martín, they traveled back to Esperanza, where they arrived on 25 August. During the trip the party overcame numerous obstacles and withstood temperatures below −43 °C (−45 °F) and katabatic winds of 220 km/h (140 mph). This feat is considered even now as the most important ever made in the area. Some unused installations of

754-536: The year due to the thick ice-covered waters. In this zone, rarely visited because of the difficulties and hazards for navigation, there are several groups of islands, islets, rocks and reefs that draw a network of channels and fjords , usually frozen. Some of the most important islands are the Pourquoi Pas , Herradura , Caballete and Millerand , all of them next to the Debenham archipelago , where San Martín

783-571: The zone immediately to the north is called the Southern Temperate Zone . South of the Antarctic Circle, the Sun is above the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year (and therefore visible at midnight) and the centre of the Sun (ignoring refraction) is below the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year (and therefore not visible at noon); this is also true within

812-598: Was built by François de Gerlache and other members of the Joint Services Expedition 1983–85 to commemorate the first landing on Brabant Island by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition, 1897–99: Adrien de Gerlache (Belgium) leader, Roald Amundsen (Norway), Henryk Arctowski (Poland), Frederick Cook (USA) and Emile Danco (Belgium) camped nearby from 30 January to 6 February 1898. Upload another image Here on 30 August 1916,

841-470: Was built. As of 2014 San Martín is composed of 14 buildings spanning a total area of 18 ha (180,000 m; 1,900,000 sq ft). The base has several dependencies and facilities, namely: main house; airstrip; heliport; infirmary; chapel; main and auxiliary power plants; vehicle fleet (a number of ski-doos , and a few snow tracks and ATVs ) and park, laboratory, mechanical and carpentry workshops, and several deposits. The all-year capable airstrip

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