Argentine Antarctica

Argentine Antarctica, also called Antártida Argentina or Sector Antártico Argentino, is a part of Antarctica that Argentina claims as its own. It includes the Antarctic Peninsula and a triangular area that reaches all the way to the South Pole. This area is between the 25° West and 74° West meridians and the 60° South parallel. However, this claim overlaps with claims from Britain and Chile, and not all countries agree with it.

Argentina began its presence in Antarctica in 1904 with a base on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands. The claim on the main part of Antarctica started in 1941 and was officially made in 1957. Today, Argentine Antarctica is managed as a department of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands, with leaders based in Ushuaia. The Instituto Antártico Argentino and the Argentine Antarctic Program organize all activities there.

Argentina has been exploring Antarctica since the early 1900s. In 1902, José María Sobral became the first Argentine to step foot on the continent as part of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition led by Otto Nordenskiöld. In 1904, Argentina built the Orcadas Permanent Base. Later, more bases were built, and in 1965, an Argentine team reached the South Pole during Operación 90. The area of Argentine Antarctica is about 1,461,597 km², with 965,597 km² being land covered by thick ice.

The temperature in Argentine Antarctica varies from 0 °C in summer to as low as −60 °C in winter, though it can sometimes drop to −82 °C or rise to 18 °C. Argentina uses the same time zone as the rest of the country, UTC-3. There are six permanent Antarctic stations and seven that are used only in summer. As of 2010, about 230 people lived on these bases, including families and children, but by 2022, the number had dropped to around 130. These residents can vote in elections for the province of Tierra del Fuego.

History

First expeditions

In 1815, Guillermo Brown, an Irish-born Argentine sailor, began a journey to catch Spanish ships in the Pacific Ocean. While passing Cape Horn on ships named Hercules and Trinidad, strong winds carried them south to around 65° South. Brown said he saw land in Antarctica, which is why some maps call part of the Antarctic Peninsula Tierra de la Trinidad.

In 1829, the government of Buenos Aires made a rule creating a group to manage the Falkland Islands, including nearby islands close to Cape Horn.

Argentina joined a Swedish expedition in 1900, helping with support. An Argentine sailor named Jose Maria Sobral joined the ship in 1901. When the expedition’s ship got stuck, Argentina sent help to find and save the team.

Permanent occupation of South Orkney Islands since 1904

In 1904, Argentina took over a weather station set up by a Scottish explorer on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands. Soon after, Argentina raised its flag there, marking the beginning of a permanent settlement called Orcadas Base, which remains today.

Argentina sent more help to Antarctica in 1905, looking for a lost French expedition. Because of this help, a group of islands was named the Argentine Islands.

Creation of the National Antarctic Commission in 1940

In 1939, Argentina made a temporary group to study Antarctica. This became a permanent group in 1940 to support more research.

Chile made its own map in 1940 showing its claims in Antarctica. Argentina disagreed and said it also had rights to the same area.

Formulation of the Argentine claim to the Antarctic mainland since 1941

The new group helped Argentina make its first map in 1941 showing its claimed area in Antarctica. In 1942, Argentina officially claimed part of Antarctica between certain lines of longitude.

In 1946, Argentina’s government made a rule that all maps must show its claimed Antarctic area.

Presence in the Antarctic Peninsula since 1951

Argentina built its first base on the mainland of Antarctica in 1951. The next year, another base called Esperanza Base was built.

Signing of the Antarctic Treaty

In 1959, Argentina and other countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, which began in 1961. This treaty helps protect Antarctica for peaceful uses like science.

In the 1960s, Argentina started tours to Antarctica and began flying people there. Argentina also sent rockets from its bases to study the weather and radiation.

In 1965, ten Argentine soldiers reached the South Pole, making it the first ground trip there by Argentina.

The first person known to be born in Antarctica was Emilio Palma, born at Esperanza Base in 1978.

In 2012, the United Kingdom renamed part of its Antarctic area to Queen Elizabeth Land. Argentina did not agree with this change.

Geography

See also: Geography of the British Antarctic Territory and Geography of Antarctica

The land in Argentine Antarctica looks a bit like the area called Patagonia far to the north. The tallest mountains are found at the southern part of the Antarctic Peninsula, which also has many islands and groups of islands called archipelagos nearby. Most of the land is covered by a thick layer of ice called an ice sheet.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Antarctica

The weather in Argentine Antarctica changes from place to place. In the north, it has a cooler type of climate called a subpolar climate, while the south is even colder, with a polar climate. This area is very cold all year, with temperatures often below freezing. There are two main types of weather patterns here: one with lots of ice and snow in the middle of the land, and another near the coast with very strong winds, especially in winter. The middle of the land is the coldest and driest because it is far from the ocean. Temperatures can drop very low during the dark winter months. Even in the warmest time of year, temperatures stay below freezing near the coast. Most of the rain here falls as snow. Because of the ice and snow covering most of the land and the extreme cold, there are very few plants, and they only grow near the coast.

Symbols

See also: Flags of Antarctica

The flag of Tierra del Fuego, which includes Argentine Antarctica, was adopted in 1999 after a contest. It has two colors, sky blue and orange, split diagonally. A white albatross divides the flag, and the Southern Cross stars appear in the blue part. The orange color stands for the fire in the province's name, and the blue represents the sky and matches the color of the country's flag.

Argentine bases

Esperanza and Marambio are the two biggest bases Argentina has in Antarctica. Together, they have about 70 buildings and can hold around 110 people in the winter and up to 250 in the summer. Orcadas Base on the South Orkney Islands is special because it has been operating continuously since 1903. The farthest south base that Argentina keeps open all year is Belgrano II, and the farthest south base they use only in the summer is Sobral.

Argentina uses ships and special airplanes like the C-130 Hercules and DHC-6 Twin Otter to bring supplies to these bases.

The Argentine Navy sends ships each year to support its work in Antarctica. In the 2022/23 season, ships like Puerto Argentino, Estrecho San Carlos, and the icebreaker Almirante Irízar were part of this mission. These ships were also helped by Sea King helicopters from the Argentine Navy.

As of mid-2023, Argentina was talking with Finland about building a new ship for polar missions called the "ARC 133". This ship would be able to travel through thick ice all year and might be finished some time in the later 2020s.

Permanent bases

• Belgrano II (77°52′S 34°37′W / 77.867°S 34.617°W / -77.867; -34.617), laboratory and weather station; the southernmost base Argentina keeps open all year (since 1979)
• Belgrano III (77°54′02″S 45°47′01″W / 77.90056°S 45.78361°W / -77.90056; -45.78361) (closed)
• Esperanza (63°24′S 57°00′W / 63.400°S 57.000°W / -63.400; -57.000), Hope Bay
  • Laboratory and weather station (since 1952)
  • Radio LRA36 Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, School #38 Presidente Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín (since 1978)
  • Catholic Chapel, Post Office, Gym, Civil registration, port, tourist facilities
• Carlini (62°14′S 58°40′W / 62.233°S 58.667°W / -62.233; -58.667), science station at King George Island
• Marambio Base Station (64°14′S 56°37′W / 64.233°S 56.617°W / -64.233; -56.617), Seymour-Marambio Island
  • Laboratory, weather station
  • Airport, with a runway that is 1.2 km (¾ mile) long and 30 metres (100 feet) wide (since 1969) (Website)
• Orcadas Base (60°44′S 44°44′W / 60.733°S 44.733°W / -60.733; -44.733), South Orkney Islands (since 1903)
• San Martín Base (68°08′S 67°06′W / 68.133°S 67.100°W / -68.133; -67.100), laboratory and weather station (since 1951)

Seasonal bases

• Teniente Camara Base (1957) 62°02′S 58°42′W / 62.033°S 58.700°W / -62.033; -58.700, Livingston Island
• Base Deception (1948) 62°52′S 60°43′W / 62.867°S 60.717°W / -62.867; -60.717, Deception Island
• Petrel Air Station (1967) 63°28′S 56°17′W / 63.467°S 56.283°W / -63.467; -56.283 Dundee Island
• Base Primavera (1977) 64°09′S 60°57′W / 64.150°S 60.950°W / -64.150; -60.950, Alexander Island
• Base Melchior (1947) 64°20′S 62°59′W / 64.333°S 62.983°W / -64.333; -62.983 Anvers Island
• Almirante Brown Base (1951) 64°53′S 62°53′W / 64.883°S 62.883°W / -64.883; -62.883, Paradise Bay
• Teniente Matienzo Base (1961) 64°58′S 60°04′W / 64.967°S 60.067°W / -64.967; -60.067, Larsen Nunatak

Camps, huts and other establishments

There are 64 other places in Argentine Antarctica.

• Base Alférez de Navío Sobral (1965) 81°05′S 40°00′W / 81.083°S 40.000°W / -81.083; -40.000, Edith Ronne Land (closed)
• Estación Científica Ellsworth (ex US) (1958) 77°45′S 41°00′W / 77.750°S 41.000°W / -77.750; -41.000, Weddell Sea (closed)
• Refuge Francisco de Gurruchaga 62°15′S 59°00′W / 62.250°S 59.000°W / -62.250; -59.000, Nelson Island (open as hut)
• Base Ballvé 62°12′36″S 58°56′03″W / 62.21000°S 58.93417°W / -62.21000; -58.93417, King George Island (open as hut)
• Belgrano I Base 77°47′S 38°15′W / 77.783°S 38.250°W / -77.783; -38.250, Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf (closed)
• Belgrano III Base 77°54′02″S 45°47′01″W / 77.90056°S 45.78361°W / -77.90056; -45.78361, Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf (closed)
• Camp Livingston 62°39′22″S 61°00′39″W / 62.65611°S 61.01083°W / -62.65611; -61.01083, Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island
• Refugio Suecia 63°22′S 56°59′W / 63.367°S 56.983°W / -63.367; -56.983, Snow Hill Island (built in February 1902 by the Swedish South Polar Expedition)
• Refuge Abrazo de Maipú 63°20′45″S 57°33′12″W / 63.34583°S 57.55333°W / -63.34583; -57.55333, Trinity Peninsula (administered between Chile and Argentina)

Argentina's claim to the Antarctic Peninsula overlaps with the Antarctic claims of Chile, 53°W to 90°W, and the UK claims, 20°W to 80°W.

Currently, there are no attempts by Argentina or any other country to enforce territorial claims in Antarctica. See List of Antarctic territorial claims.

None of these claims have widespread international recognition.

Demographics

The first baby born in Antarctica was Emilio Palma, who was born in 1978 at the Fortín Sargento Cabral at the Esperanza Base. Soon after, María de las Nieves Delgado became the first girl born there. By 1980, six more children were born at the base. The base even has an office for recording births and weddings.

In 1991, about 142 people lived there all the time, including 19 children. Most were men, with only 21 women. These people were either families or scientists who had lived there for over two years. By the winter of 1998–1999, the number of people living there during the cold season grew to 165.

See also: Demographics of Antarctica