Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station

There is indeed more than just a tent village here at the South Pole.

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was first built in November 1956 by the US Government as a part of its commitment to the scientific goals of the International Geophysical Year (IGY). Before November 1956, there was no permanent human structure at the South Pole, and very little human presence in the interior of Antarctica at all. The Amundsen-Scott Station has been rebuilt, demolished, expanded, and upgraded several times since 1956 (got that from Wikipedia…).

In 2008 the elevated station was officially dedicated after it was rebuilt and modernized, and is now a pretty comfortable place for people working and living here. It consists of two stories which are built on massive stilts or pilings. These pilings are used to level the station and to increase its height in case it gets endangered to be covered by snow. The shape of the building, if you would look at it from above, resembles a capital “E” with one additional bar. Or two capital Greek letters “Pi” connected at their horizontal bar. Most of the housing, little single rooms, about 2.50mx3m, are located in the bars, also called Wings. That’s where I am right now, writing this. To be more precise, in Wing1 A1, level 1.

In the pictures you can see the main entrance to the station (where I walked in on Saturday), and the four Wings of the building with the two stories.