Argentina Antarctic Day: 119 years of uninterrupted stay on the southernmost continent of the planet

On February 22, 1904, the national flag was raised for the first time on Laurie Island in the South Orcadas Archipelago, north of Argentina’s Antarctic sector, which made our country a pioneer in scientific research on the sixth continent.

The beginnings

Since the turn of the 20th century, seal hunters from the River Plate had been heading north to the Antarctic Peninsula in search of oil and skins to sell in eastern markets. In order to protect this hunting area from predation, the activity was kept in absolute secrecy, to the point that the discovery of the land was entrusted to other navigators.

In 1901, a Swedish scientific expedition led by Dr. Otto Nordenskjöld left the port of Buenos Aires; it was one of the first scientific excursions into unexplored Antarctica. Ensign José María Sobral took part, as a meteorologist, magnetologist and geodesist, in this trip aboard the “Antartic”, a ship that sank in the middle of the ice floe. After remaining isolated for two years, the expedition was rescued by the corvette Uruguay of the Argentine Navy, commanded by Lieutenant Julián Irízar.

In 1902, the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, led by British naturalist and oceanographer William Bruce, arrived in the area aboard a Norwegian whaler named “Scotia”, crewed by six scientists and 25 officers. and crew members. His mission was to explore the polar ice cap, but unable to continue further south due to sea ice, Bruce headed for the South Orkney Islands and landed on Laurie Island, where the ship became trapped in the pack ice. Forced to winter, the members of the expedition built a stone building called “Omond House”, in homage to the director of the Edinburgh Observatory, a magnetic station and a meteorological observatory. At the end of December, the “Scotia” arrived in Buenos Aires to repair the damage suffered and, concerned about the continuity of meteorological observations, handed over the installations to the Argentine government.

A historic gift

The National Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory was created by President Julio Argentino Roca by Decree No. 3073 of January 2, 1904, and the transfer of the facilities was completed the following February 22. Along with the raising of the national flag, the Argentine Republic took on the task of giving continuity to meteorological observations which allowed greater accuracy to be granted to national forecasts. Simultaneously, the Orcadas South Post Office was inaugurated, the first Antarctic Post Office in history.

Since then and by National Law No. 20.827/74, the Argentine Antarctic Day is celebrated on this date, a rule that also establishes that public buildings must display the national flag and educational institutions, allusive acts.

In 1905, the original construction -“Omond House”- was added to another more modern one that today functions as a museum with the name of “Casa Moneta”, in honor of the Argentine meteorologist and diplomat José Manuel Moneta, who wintered four years in this scientific station. This experience is reflected in his book Four years in South Orkney and it was also recorded in the documentary Among the ice of the Orkney Islands this round in 1927.

Antarctica today

Seven countries claim sovereign rights over the sector: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. Among the main titles held up by our country, we can cite geographical and geological continuity; historical heritage of Spain; the aforementioned permanent occupation of a scientific station maintained to this day, to which was added the installation and maintenance of other permanent and temporary bases on the peninsula and the adjacent islands, as well as shelters in various places in the sector and discoveries and research at the service of science.

Currently, Argentina has seven permanent bases – which operate year-round -: Orcadas, Marambio, Carlini, Esperanza, San Martín, Belgrano II and Petrel; and six temporary -qualified in summer-: Almirante Brown, Matienzo, Primavera, Cámara, Melchior and Deception. In addition, scientists and technicians of the Direction Nacional del Antártico y del Instituto Antártico Argentino, together with other institutions and organisms, are dedicated to the investigation in distinct areas, between the impact of the climatic climate in the flora and fauna of the region; ozone layer depletion and its effects; the space climate which allows the detection of solar phenomena, as well as seismological and microbiological studies.

antarctic spirit

Beyond scientific knowledge, Argentina has been a pioneer in search and rescue operations, and has a patrol that can be mobilized immediately upon request. Help in 1903 from the Swedish expedition of Dr. Otto Nordenskjöld; assistance in 2002 to the German vessel Magdalena Oldendorff in the southern Weddell Sea; and the rescue in 2005 by an Argentinian patrol of the scientific and military corps of the Chilean base O’Higgins on the island of 25 de Mayo, are just a few examples of the spirit of solidarity and collaboration that has distinguished us throughout the story. .

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