Maitri (research station)

Maitri is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica as part of the Indian Antarctic Programme. The name was suggested by the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi who was assassinated a month before the expedition left the shores of India on 3 December 1984. Work on the station was first started by the Indian Expedition which landed there in end Dec 1984, with a team led by Dr. B. B. Bhattacharya. Sqn Ldr D. P. Joshi, the surgeon of the team, was the first camp commander of the tentage at camp Maitri. The first huts were started by the IV Antarctica Expedition and completed in 1989, shortly before the first station Dakshin Gangotri was buried in ice and abandoned in 1990–91.[1] Maitri is situated in the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis. It is only 5 km away from the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station.

Maitri Station
Antarctic Research Station
An aerial view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on 2 February 2005
Maitri Station
Location of Maitri Station in Antarctica
Coordinates: 70°46′00″S 11°43′53″E
Country India
Location in AntarcticaQueen Maud Land
Antarctica
Administered byIndian Antarctic Program
EstablishedJanuary 1989 (1989-01)
Elevation
130 m (430 ft)
Population
 • Total
  • Up to 65
TypeAll-year round
PeriodAnnual
StatusOperational
Maitri under construction with lake Indira Priyadarshini in background (1988)

Facilities
An aerial view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on 2 February 2005

The station has modern facilities to research in various disciplines, such as biology, earth sciences, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, meteorology, cold region engineering, communication, human physiology, and medicine. It can accommodate 25 people for winter. Freshwater is provided through a freshwater lake named Lake Priyadarshini, in front of Maitri.

Airfield
ALCI Airbase
Novo Runway
Summary
Airport typePrivate
OperatorAntarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI)
ServesNovolazarevskaya and Maitri
LocationDronning Maud Land
OpenedApril 6, 2014 (2014-04-06)
Time zone(UTC+3.30)
Coordinates70°49′17″S 11°38′36″E
Map
ALCI Airbase
Novo Runway
Location of airfield in Antarctica
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9,842 3,000 Blue Ice

A blue ice runway, located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away, operated by Antarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI) serves the station and Novolazarevskaya.

See also

References
  1. "Maitri". Polar Conservation Organisation. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
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