Mawson Station, Research facility at Holme Bay, Antarctica
Mawson Station is a year-round research facility at Holme Bay in East Antarctica, sitting at an elevation of 15 meters (49 feet) above sea level. The station accommodates up to 20 people during winter and 53 during summer, with full support systems for scientific work and daily operations.
The Australian Antarctic Division established this facility in 1954, making it the oldest continuously inhabited research station south of the Antarctic Circle. This early commitment to polar science during a period of international geophysical research helped establish its lasting role.
Scientists conduct research on cosmic rays, space weather, and penguin behavior in this isolated setting. This work helps the global community understand polar ecosystems and phenomena in the upper atmosphere.
Access to the station is highly restricted and typically requires government authorization, as it remains an active research facility. The extreme polar conditions and remote location mean that only specialized personnel work and stay there.
The station harnesses power from two large wind turbines driven by the intense katabatic winds common to this region, operating since 2003 to generate renewable energy. This was a pioneering approach to sustainable electricity in Antarctica.
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