Esperanza Base

Esperanza Base is a research base in the Antarctic Peninsula that is claimed by Argentina to be a civilian settlement similar to how Chile claims Villa Las Estrellas to be a civilian settlement. It is the birthplace of the first known human to be born on Antarctica as well as all other "Antarctica natives" not born in the Chilean base of Villa las Estrellas. However, the governments of both countries have since stopped the practice of flying in pregnant women to score political points despite none of the dozen or so births having any major complications.

Understand

The base was built in 1953 and is home to some 55 people in winter. In addition to research personal and people connected to the maintenance of the station itself, there are also school teachers and the families of those working here. There's even a radio station and a scout troop. In addition to important liquid fuels, the energy needs of the station are partially fulfilled by a wind turbine installed in 2008. As the antarctic climate is pretty windy, this isn't the worst possible site.

Get in
  • 🌍 Refugio Puerto Moro. Big enough to allow small boats to dock and equipped with a small wooden breakwater for boats to dock (updated Jun 2018)

Get around

See
  • 🌍 Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi. This is the first explicitly Catholic chapel on the continent and saw a few antarctic "firsts" such as the first baptism (of a person born in the base) the first religious person and so on. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Buenos Aires Glacier. A glacier a bit outside the base (updated Jun 2018)
  • Museo de la Base Esperanza. A museum (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Choza de los Suecos. A Swedish antarctic expedition shipwrecked around here in 1902 and built this hut to survive the brutal antarctic conditions. The remains of said hut are now a protected monument under the Antarctic treaty and maintained by Sweden and Argentina. (updated Jun 2018)

Do

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Learn
  • 🌍 Escuela Provincial Nº 38 Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín. In keeping with this being a "civilian settlement" and Argentina maintaining entire families here, this school with two teachers and 9 students as of the 2014 school year serves to provide education to the children of families who work at the base. It is the southernmost school on earth (updated Jun 2018)

Connect
  • LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel. This is the local radio station which sends a Spanish language program for a couple hours each day. Nowadays one can also get Argentinian TV through a large antenna somewhat diminishing the importance of the station (updated Jun 2018)

Go next

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