Great Wall Station (Antarctica)

The Great Wall Station (simplified Chinese: 长城站; traditional Chinese: 長城站; pinyin: Chángchéng Zhàn) is the first Chinese research station in Antarctica and opened on 20 February 1985. It lies on the Fildes Peninsula on King George Island, and is about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) from the Chilean Frei Montalva Station, and 960 kilometres (600 mi) from Cape Horn. The station is sited on ice-free rock, about 10 metres (33 ft) above sea level.

Great Wall Station
长城站
Antarctic base
Great Wall Station
Great Wall Station
Location of Great Wall Station in Antarctica
Location of Great Wall Station in Antarctica
Great Wall Station
Location of Great Wall Station in Antarctica
Coordinates: 62°13′01″S 58°57′43″W
Country China
Location in AntarcticaFildes Peninsula
King George Island
Administered byPolar Research Institute of China
Established20 February 1985 (1985-02-20)
Elevation
[1]
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • Summer
60
 • Winter
13
TypeAll-year round
PeriodAnnual
StatusOperational
Activities
List
  • Geology
  • Geomagnetism
  • Seismology
WebsiteChinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration

History

In 1984, China organized its first scientific expedition to Antarctica, and Guo Kun was named the leader of the 591-member expedition team. The team departed Shanghai on 20 November 1984 on two ships, the Xiang Yang Hong 10 and the J121, and arrived at King George Island off the coast of Antarctica on 30 December.[2] A main part of their mission was to construct China's first antarctic base, the Great Wall Station. As the Xiang Yang Hong 10 was not an icebreaker, the team had to leave before the end of the antarctic summer and had only a short window of opportunity to complete their mission.[2] Under Guo's supervision, the team worked 16 to 17 hours a day in often severe weather conditions, and completed the construction in only 40 days. Construction of the station was completed on 14 February 1985.[2][3]

In summer, the station holds up to 60 people;[1] in winter, 14. The station's No. 1 Building, erected in 1985, lies at the centre of the station and has a total floor area of 175 square metres (1,880 sq ft). It marks the beginning of China’s presence in Antarctica and its Antarctic research program.

In 2012, the Antarctic Treaty System designated two sites at the station as Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica following nominations by China: a monolith erected to commemorate the establishment of the station and the station's No.1 Building.[4]

Construction of the Great Wall Station in January 1985, China's first base in Antarctica.
Construction of China's first antarctic base in January 1985, the Great Wall Station.

See also

References
  1. Antarctic Station Catalogue (PDF) (catalogue). Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs. August 2017. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-473-40409-3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. "南极长城站首任站长逝世 曾发誓"拼命也要建好站"". Xinhua. 2019-04-06. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  3. Liu Shiyao 刘诗瑶 (2019-04-10). "追记中国首次南极考察队长郭琨：一辈子惦记那片冰原". The Paper. Archived from the original on 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  4. "List of Historic Sites and Monuments approved by the ATCM (2012)" (PDF). Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2019-04-13.

Bibliography
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