Belgrano III Base Base Belgrano III | |
|---|---|
  Belgrano III Base Location in Antarctica | |
| Coordinates:77°54′02″S45°47′01″W / 77.9006°S 45.7836°W /-77.9006; -45.7836 | |
| Region | Filchner Ice Shelf |
| Location | Berkner Island |
| Established | 30 January 1980 (1980-1-30) |
| Evacuated | 15 January 1984 (1984-1-15) |
| Named after | Manuel Belgrano |
| Government | |
| • Type | Administration |
| • Body | Instituto Antártico Argentino |
| Elevation | 510 m (1,670 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (ART) |
| Active times | All year-round |
| Facilities | List
|
Belgrano III Base (Spanish:Base Belgrano III) was a permanent, all year-roundArgentineAntarctic base and scientificresearch station named after GeneralManuel Belgrano, one of theLibertadores and the creator of theArgentine Flag. It was located onBerkner Island on theFilchner Ice Shelf.
At the time of its inauguration it was Argentina's southernmost permanent base.[1]It was shut down in 1984 over safety concerns due to it being built on increasingly unstable ice, which endangered both personnel and equipment.[2]
On 8 January 1980, launching the second stage of the 1979–80 austral summer campaign, theArgentine Navy's newicebreakerARAAlmirante Irízar sailed away fromBuenos Aires with the mission of founding a new base on Berkner Island, on the Filchner Ice Shelf.[1]
On 24 January 1980 and after a sixteen-day-long trip, the ship reached the chosen place, about 200 km (120 mi) west of the spot occupied byBelgrano I, by then already abandoned because the ice platform it was placed upon was cracking at a fast rate, resulting in unsafe working conditions.[1]
Belgrano III was officially inaugurated on 30 January after finishing unloading of cargo with the aid of twoPuma SA 330 helicopters from theArgentine Army Aviation Command.[1] At this time it hosted a nine-menArgentine Army complement.[1]
Belgrano III was shut down after 4 years of continuous service due to the fast deterioration of the ice barrier it was sitting on;[2] new, often hidden cracks and crevices endangered the on-duty personnel and material.The base was closed on 15 January 1984 and all of its staff was evacuated by a helicopter operating fromAlmirante Irízar.[2] Due to a mix of very bad weather and mechanical failure of the second helicopter aboardAlmirante Irízar, 33 t (32 long tons; 36 short tons) of packaged equipment had to be left behind to be recovered by land or, if not possible, in a later summer campaign.[2] The salvage of such equipment was further delayed for several campaigns because of unusualpack ice thickness and other transport andlogistic setbacks. On 1989 a helicopter inspection showed that the base and packages were already completely buried in snow and ice 4–5 m (13–16 ft) deep; only the antennae were sticking out in the surface.[3]
The initial facilities at Belgrano III were composed of nine mobile modules coupled together and mounted oncontinuous tracks. They were constructed of plastic material, which provided structural strength andthermal insulation at the same time, necessary features to withstand the rigorous winds and freezing temperatures prevailing in the area. In addition the base had a cubicle mounted onskis. These facilities were assigned to staff accommodation, communications station, infirmary, meteorological station, kitchen, bathroom and power plant.[1]
A freezing chamber was built in the ice, and some deposits were installed directly on the ground.[1]
Besides the usual equipment and facility maintenance duties, personnel at Belgrano III carried out various scientific projects regardingmeteorology,geomagnetism andtopographic surveys on the area.[1]
 | ||
