Argentine Antarctica

style="margin-left: inherit; font-size: medium;" | **Argentine Antarctica**

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Motto: En Unión y Libertad Anthem: Argentine National Anthem Status Department of the Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur Province Official language(s) Spanish Capital Esperanza Base Area 965.597 km² Population 200-300 Currency Argentine Peso

Argentine Antarctica (Spanish: Antártida Argentina) is a sector of Antarctica which Argentina considers part of its National Territory. The Argentine Antarctic region, consisting of the Antarctic Peninsula and a triangular section extending to the South Pole, is delimited by the meridians 25° West and 74° West and the parallel 60° South latitude. Administratively, Argentine Antarctica is a department of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands. The provincial authorities reside in Ushuaia and the Governor annually designates his delegate for the Antarctica region, which thus represents the civil power of the zone. There are overlapping claims on this territory by Chile and the UK, so the "civil power" of any of the administrators extends no further than that nation's own bases.

The Argentine exploration to the continent started early in the 20th century. José María Sobral was the first Argentine to set foot on Antarctica in 1901, where he spent 2 seasons with the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of Doctor Otto Nordenskiöld. Shortly afterwards, in 1904, the Orcadas permanent base was already fully operational. Years later other bases would be created, some permanent and others seasonal. The first Argentine expedition to reach the South Pole was the 1965 Operación 90.

Argentine bases

Esperanza and Marambio are the biggest Argentine bases, holding together 70 buildings, an average of 110 persons during the winter, and over a maximum of 250 during the summer. Orcadas Base is the world's first base in Antarctica, operating continuously since 1903. The southernmost Argentine permanent base is Belgrano II, at over 77 degrees south. The southernmost summer base is Sobral, at 1,450 kilometres far from Belgrano II.

The bases are supplied by the following ships: Puerto Deseado, Suboficial Castillo, and Almirante Irizar, and by C-130 Hercules and DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.

Permanent

Belgrano II, () Laboratory and meteorological station Argentine southernmost base (since 1979).
Esperanza () Laboratory and meteorological station (since 1952). Radio LRA Arcángel, School #38 Julio A. Roca (since 1978), tourist facilities.
Jubany, () Scientific station at King George Island
Marambio Base Station, () Seymour-Marambio Island. Laboratory, meteorological station, 1.2km long, 30m wide landing track (since 1969) (website)
Orcadas Base () Orcadas Islands (since 1903)
San Martín Base () (since 1951) Laboratory and Meteorological measurements

Seasonal

Teniente Camara (1957) , King George Island
Base Deception (1948) , Deception Island
Petrel Air Station (1967) Dundee Island
Primavera (1977) , Alejandrina Island
Des. Navy Melchior (1947 Anvers Island
Almirante Brown (1951) , Paradise Bay
Teniente Matienzo (1961) , Nunatak Larsen

Camps and other

(64 in all)

Base Alférez de Navío Sobral (1965) , Edith Ronne Land
Campamento Byers , Byers peninsula
Estación Científica Ellsworth (ex USA) (1958) , Weddell Sea
Base Gurruchaga , Nelson Island
Campamento Científico Livingston , Livingston Island

Argentine claim

The Argentine presence in the sector, according to some historical investigations, took place in the second decade of the 19th century; some even affirm that it took place by the end of the previous century. They were Argentine fishing ships that from the port of Buenos Aires went to the now called South Shetland Islands in search of their catch. However, navigators of other countries attributed to themselves the discovery of Antarctica. By the end of the 19th century the aid lent by Argentina to foreign expeditions, in particular that of Nordenskiöld, Gerlache and Charcot, was properly appreciated. There remains as tangible result a series of Argentine place names to Antarctic geographic features: Argentine Islands, Uruguay Islands, General Roca, Quintana, and others.

In 1904 the permanent occupation of the Antarctic continent began with the opening of Orcadas Base in the South Orkney Islands. Argentina was the only nation to have an Antarctic base for 40 years until the British built a base on the same islands.

Argentina bases its claims on this sector of Antarctica on the following grounds:

The Antarctic peninsula is geologically and geographically part of the Andes.
Argentina has maintained a permanent occupation for more than a century, and controls the oldest base in Antarctica (Orcadas Station).
Argentina conducts many rescue missions in Antarctica.
Argentina has constructed lighthouses and other navigational aids in Antarctica.
Argentina constructed Antarctica's first airport in 1969.
Argentines form more of Antarctica's population than nationals of any other country.
The first Antarctican was born in Esperanza Base (Hope Base), namely Emilio Palma.
Argentina has sent more people to Antarctica than all the other countries together

Argentina's claim to the Antarctic Peninsula is contested by the governments of Chile and the UK, although all claims are effectively suspended under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty.

Demographics

In 1978, the first Antarctic baby was born in the Fortín Sargento Cabral at the Esperanza Base under the name Emilio Palma. In 1991 there were 142 permanent residents including 19 underages. Residents are composed by families that live in Antarctica or scientists that have lived for more than 2 years. They were 121 men and 21 women that lived mostly in the colony of Esperanza and other bases.

External links

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