Teniente Luis Carvajal Villaroel Antarctic Base Explained

Carvajal Villaroel Antarctic Base
Native Name:Base Teniente Luis Carvajal Villarroel
Native Name Lang:es
Other Name:Station T
Settlement Type:Antarctic research station
Pushpin Map:Antarctica
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Antarctica
Pushpin Relief:y
Subdivision Type:Region
Subdivision Name:Antarctic Peninsula
Subdivision Type1:Location
Subdivision Name1:Adelaide Island
Established Title:Established
Established Title1:Transferred
Extinct Title:Closed
Named For:Luis Tomás Carvajal Villarroel
Government Type:Administration
Governing Body:INACH, Chile
Elevation M:4
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population As Of:2017
Population Blank1 Title:Summer
Population Blank1:46
Population Blank2 Title:Winter
Population Blank2:0
Timezone1:CLT
Utc Offset1:-3
Blank Name Sec1:Active times
Blank Info Sec1:Every summer
Blank1 Name Sec1:Activities
Blank2 Name Sec1:Facilities

The Teniente Luis Carvajal Villaroel Antarctic Base (Spanish; Castilian: Teniente Carvajal) is a seasonal Chilean Antarctic base on the south-west tip of Adelaide Island, in Graham Land off the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The nearest land is the Magallanes  - the station is in the Antarctic territory claimed by Chile.

History

Station T

The base was established by Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) in 1961 and was previously known as the Station T.[2]

It was established on the south-west tip of Adelaide Island in preference to Rothera Point as it had a better skiway for aircraft and less sea ice to hinder access by ship. The base was set up to carry out Survey work in the local and extended area, glaciology, geology and meteorology. The base was the main air facility and centre for airborne earth sciences programme. It was occupied continuously by BAS from 3 February 1961 to 1 March 1977.[2] Closed when the skiway deteriorated and operations were transferred to Rothera (Station R).

The original building was known as Stephenson House after A Stephenson, surveyor on the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE) 1934-37. An additional hut named Rymill House after John Riddoch Rymill, leader of BGLE, was erected in Mar 1962. A separate accommodation hut named Hampton House after W E Hampton, deputy leader and chief pilot of the BGLE, was erected on 1 January 1963. This had been planned originally to be a garage at Fossil Bluff (Station KG). A plastic accommodation building was established on 3 March 1967.[3]

Current use

The base was transferred to Chile 14 August 1984 and renamed Teniente Luis Carvajal Villaroel Antarctic Base.[2] Chile has used the station as a summer only facility since this time. In the last few years the skiway has deteriorated further, leading to the death of a Chilean air mechanic, when he fell down a crevasse. Since then the Chilean Air Force have ceased operations at Carvajal. The Chilean Navy continues to visit the base during the summer to ensure it is in good order.

During the Winter months, staff at Rothera Station often visit the deserted buildings at Carvajal on BAS "Winter Training Trips".

See also

References

  1. catalogue . Antarctic Station Catalogue . August 2017 . . 978-0-473-40409-3 . 41 . 16 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221022102847/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61073506e9b0073c7eaaf464/t/611497cc1ece1b43f0eeca8a/1628739608968/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf . 22 October 2022 . live.
  2. Web site: History of British station and refuges. British Antarctic Survey. 27 January 2013.
  3. Web site: History of Adelaide Island (Station T). History of British stations and refuges . . 2015 . 25 July 2016.

External links