India’s Antarctica expedition started in the year 1981 under the leadership of Dr. SZ Qasim. There were 21 scientists in this team. This first Indian expedition team reached the icy Antarctica continent on January 9, 1982. This was a great achievement for India. India established its first station named ‘Dakshin Gangotri’ in Antarctica in 1983-84. After this, two more stations established here. Let us know, how these stations in Antarctica are helping the country in scientific research work.
The interest of countries around the world is increasing in Antarctica. Norway’s Roald Amundsen was the first person to reach Antarctica in 1911. Antarctica is also known as the South Pole of the Earth. Talking about India, for the first time a 21-member team under the leadership of Dr. SZ Qasim, then Secretary of the Central Environment Department and former Director of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), went to Antarctica for scientific research. The expedition began on 6 December 1981 from Goa with the help of the Norwegian ship Vessel Polar Circle.
The team of Indian scientists made its first step in Antarctica on 9 January 1982 and this team returned to Goa on 21 February 1982. The initiative credited with creating three permanent research base stations in Antarctica, namely Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri, and Bharati. At present, two research centers named Maitri and Bharati are functioning in Antarctica. “The National Center for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa manages the entire Indian Antarctica Programme. India so far established three research centers under the Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty (1959). These centers help to research in the field of paleontology and climatology, oceanography, climate change, medicine, etc.
Dakshin Gangotri:
The the first research base station established in Antarctica by India. Situated at a distance of 2300 km from the southern pole and established in 1983-84. Completed in January 1984 with the help of the Indian Army. Celebrated republic day here on 26 January 1984 with scientists from the Soviet Union and East Germany.
Maitri:
In the year 1988, the Schirmacher Oasis (rocky area) selected for the construction of the second research station named Maitri. The building of this center built on foundation of steel. It intended for use in geology, geography, and medicine. The main building here can accommodate 25 people in winter and summer. The station consists of the main building, fuel farm, fuel station, and freshwater lake (Priyadarshini) pump house.
Bharti:
About 3,000 km from Maitri; the Bharti research base station established in 2012 near Larsemann Hill. It is located between Thala Fjord and Quilty Bay, in the east of the Stornes Peninsula in Antarctica. The emergency shelters/summer camps have a total capacity of 72 people. The special feature of the station is that it constructed using 134 recycled shipping containers so that it can help researchers to work safely in extreme weather conditions.
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