The South Pole corresponds to the point where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface at the Southern hemisphere. This point, which corresponds to latitude 90 ° S, is located in the center of the Antarctica, in one of the most extreme places on the planet.
Although its cold climate makes it a place where animal life is practically impossible, since 1956 the Amundsen-Scott station a few hundred meters from the monolith that indicates the location of the pole. However, the correct location of the pole is constantly moving due to the constant drift of the ice that covers the earth's surface in the area.
Understand
The pole
The geographic South Pole is the southernmost point on Earth and is defined as the place where the earth rotation axis intersects with the surface of the planet. It is, together with the North Pole located at its antipodes, the place where all the meridians of the earth intersect, so that from this place it is only possible to move towards the north (since there is neither south, nor east nor west) and it can only be identified by its point of latitude 90 ° S.
Like the meridians, all the time zones of the world collapse at the South Pole, so it is theoretically possible to be simultaneously at all times in the world. However, its polar position means that a day lasts 6 months and the night lasts another 6 months, so the time is practically irrelevant. To maintain coordination, all activities of the polar base use the time of New Zealand (UTC 12 in winter, UTC 13 in summer).
Although the Earth's axis of rotation moves periodically, the South Pole is a defined fixed point that allows all geographic reference points, such as parallels and meridians, to be kept stable; polar motion is only relevant to certain scientific investigations. However, the pole is located in the center of the Antarctic continent, covered by a glacier about 3 kilometers thick. This glacier moves annually about 10 meters, so each year a new mark must be set in place.
In addition to the geographic South Pole, there are other relevant poles within Antarctica. The Earth's magnetic field also has poles, although these are in constant motion: the magnetic South Pole (where all field lines point up and compasses cannot distinguish the cardinal points) is currently located over the Glacial Ocean. Antarctic, near Adela's Land and Wilkes Land, while the geomagnetic South Pole (the place where the magnetic field passes through imagining the planet as a perfect magnetic dipole - a magnet -) is near the Russian Vostok station. The south pole of inaccessibility, meanwhile, is the farthest point in Antarctica from the coast; Since the measurement of the coast is somewhat complex in Antarctica (product of the large ice and snow shelves that cover the sea), this point is also mobile, but it is estimated to be about 800 kilometers away from the geographic South Pole and in she was a former Soviet research station (whose only record today is a metal bust of Lenin). However, in none of these poles there are relevant tourist elements, so there is no attraction in visiting it (beyond mentioning it in a meeting with your friends).
History
The South Pole, like all of Antarctica, has a history that barely exceeds a century. The first Antarctic expeditions, dating back to the 19th century, slowly began to advance in conquering the last unexplored corner of the world. The improvements in the technology allowed each time to advance in the conquest of the South Pole.
In 1909, the British Ernest shackleton He was the first to try to reach the South Pole. Although he broke all existing records to date, Shackleton reached latitude 88 ° 23 ', about 180 kilometers away from the South Pole. This motivated new expeditions to achieve the highest honor of the Antarctic expedition. The British Robert Falcon Scott (who had already led an expedition that reached the southernmost place to date in 1902) and the Norwegian Roald amundsen (recognized for being the first to cross the Northwest Passage in the Arctic) began a race to reach the South Pole in 1911. After several months of preparation in the Ross Sea, both expeditions departed almost simultaneously. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen and his team reached the South Pole, an achievement that Scott would achieve on January 17, 1912. While Amundsen managed to mark the milestone, thanks to his splendid use of skis and dogsleds, Scott not only faced the failure to be the second to arrive, but his team died completely due to the cold and the lack of food.
After the arrival of Amundsen and Scott, the South Pole would be visited again only in 1929 and 1956, when a US Navy plane flew over. On this last visit, the plane landed and began the process for the construction of a permanent base in commemoration of the International Geophysical Year. Since that date, the South Pole has been permanently inhabited by researchers from all over the world.
To get
The South Pole is literally one of the ends of the world, so getting there is not easy and that is one of the reasons that make your visit so attractive. Visiting the South Pole is only possible during the austral summer (approximately, between November and February), although the climatic conditions can vary and make the excursion difficult.
The easiest way to get to the South Pole is by air through the track Jack F. Paulus, dedicated almost exclusively to the transport of materials and researchers for the Amundsen-Scott Antarctic base through Hercules aircraft equipped with skis for landing. It is also possible to arrive by land, for which there are some routes. The most used is the so-called "Polo Highway" that connects Amundsen-Scott with the McMurdo base, the largest on the frozen continent, through 1700 km of compacted snow by which tractors and other heavy vehicles circulate. The terrestrial alternative most used by tourists, however, is from the Union Glacier Field, located south of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Union Glacier Field is the only existing private base in Antarctica and is managed by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC (ALE). Thanks to its airstrip over blue ice (which makes the snow sublime and does not accumulate), ALE receives several flights from Punta Arenas, many of which contain tourists. Through its subsidiary, Adventure Network International (ANI)It is possible to make tourist routes to the South Pole, either by air (from Union Glacier, about 4.5 hours of flight) or by land (about 50 days on skis). Other companies make trips to the South Pole, but in general they use the services of ALE / ANI, being able to change prices or extending the torus with other tourist packages.
- Adventure Network International (ANI). It is the main provider of tourist services to the South Pole, using its Union Glacier base. All your tours depart in Punta Arenas, and then travel in 4¼ hours to Union Glacier, where it usually takes at least a day to get used to the weather. Prices correspond to the 2014-2015 season
- Direct flights to the South Pole: 7 days in total (1 at the South Pole, 3 at Union Glacier). $ 47 500.
- Night at the South Pole: 7 days in total (2 at the South Pole, 3 at Union Glacier). $ 51 300.
- Emperors and Explorers - 9 days total (1 at the South Pole, 2 at Union Glacier, and 3 at the Wedell Sea Emperor Penguin colonies). $ 69 850
- Senior: 12 days total (1 at the South Pole, 4 at Union Glacier). It stands out for flying from Union Glacier to latitude 89 ° and then skiing for 4 days to reach Amundsen-Scott. $ 60 650
- Skiing to the South Pole: The Messner route lasts 48 days in total, while the Hercules route lasts 60. After four days of acclimatization and training in Union Glacier, a flight leaves the expedition members in the middle of the continent to start the route on skis to the South Pole where they are one day, and then return by plane. $ 63 000 to $ 67 500, according to route.
- Amundsen Route: After training at Glacier Union, fly into the Ross Sea to start the Roald Amundsen route to the South Pole. No published prices.
- Arctic odysseys: Offers flights from Punta Arenas to Union Glacier and South Pole by $ 45 000 approx.
- Ice trek: It offers ski routes to the South Pole, similar to those of ANI, as well as air routes. It has services from both Punta Arenas as from Cape Town.
- PolarExplorers: Offers air routes and ski expeditions, identical to those of ANI.
- Voyage concepts: Offers air travel to the Pole, in addition to the expedition on skis. Departures from Buenos Aires toward Punta Arenas, before traveling to the frozen continent.
Watch
The most recognized point of the sector that surrounds the South Pole is the so-called Ceremonial South Pole, which consists of a monolith formed by a metallic sphere on a red-red pole, which is surrounded by the flags of the signatory countries of the Antarctic Treaty. This symbolic place, special for taking photographs, does not exactly correspond to the geographic South Pole and is about 300 meters away from said place.
In the Geographic South Pole there is only one rod that is moved, each year, to indicate the exact point where it crosses the axis of the earth's rotation. Product of the movement of the glacial mass that is on the Antarctic surface, the location of the South Pole moves about 10 meters each year. Next to the rod is a plaque with quotes from the explorers Roald amundsen Y Robert F. Scott.
In addition to the South Pole, you can see the Amundsen-Scott Base, belonging to the United States. The old wooden base, built in 1956 and occupied until 1975, is currently practically covered by snow and it is not possible to visit due to security measures. The so-called "geodesic dome", built in metal in the 1970s, was dismantled between 2009 and 2010 and its place is also practically imperceptible by the snow. In 1999 the construction of the current Elevated Station (Elevated Station), a modular structure on stilts, designed to avoid being buried by snow.
Since you cannot officially enter the base, intended solely for scientific research, a small visitor center It was opened in the place, in which some souvenirs are sold.
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Eat and drink
All food and drink for tourists visiting the South Pole must be provided by the travel agency that organized the excursion.
Sleep
Although the station is prepared to welcome visitors, this only happens in case of extreme measures. Since the visit to the Amundsen-Scott base can only be done through organized tours, the company in charge of said organization is the one who organizes the accommodation. This is usually done in special tents to withstand the very low temperatures and, on many occasions, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag to spend the night.
Security
Along with the security measures To visit Antarctica (prepare for extreme weather, protect yourself from solar radiation, follow all the instructions of the guides, etc.), you must be careful with the altitude of the South Pole.
Although the land surface in the area is close to sea level, the enormous ice sheet that covers Antarctica raises the base to an altitude close to 2,835 m. To the altitude is added the effect generated by the Earth's rotation, thinning the atmosphere at the poles. This effect causes the atmospheric pressure to be much lower than that which would correspond to 2835 m and is close to what one would have at 3300 m. That is why you are likely to feel some problems related to the altitude sickness derived from the lack of oxygen and pressure.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on South Pole.w: South Pole
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about South Pole. Commons
