  |
In 1955 General Hernan Pujato founds Belgrano Base, remaining to the most southern base during many years.
Acknowledgement flights over ice barrier Filchner are performed thus obtaining valuable information about the area.
In 1965 Sobral Base is created that will serve as support to the so called "90 expedition" under the then Coronel Jorge Edgard Leal which that year join Belgrano Base to the South Polo by terrestrial means. Because of the glaciological conditions of the area Belgrano Base is disactivated and in order to maintain scientific activities on February 5 1972 Belgrano Base II is created. In January 1980 Belgrano Base III is created later disactivated in 1984.
It is located south of Weddell Sea in the Nunatak Bertrab on the Confin Coast Land. It is the most southern Argentine base and it is located next to the Filchner ice. The place is known for being surrounded by a huge white plateau made up by glaciers, frozen sea and deep cracks, in addition to extreme temperatures making the place even more hostile.
 |  Stations and basesGeneral informationScience activitiesStation infrastructureMedical facilitiesLogistic supportStation mobile plantEnergy management |
 |  |
Stations and bases
 | Indicates a full year station. |
 | Indicates a summer only station. |
| Belgrano II |
| Brown |
| Cámara |
| Decepción |
| Esperanza |
| Jubany |
| Marambio |
| Matienzo |
| Melchior |
| Orcadas |
| Petrel |
| Primavera |
| San Martin |
| Sobral |
Ships and vessels
| |
General information on Base Belgrano II
Location of base
- Confin Coast - North of Coast Land
- 77°52'29"S, 34°37'37"W
- 50 m above sea level
- Solid rock surface
- 120 km from the Antarctic coastline
- Halley (400 km) nearest station
- Ushuaia (2 500 km) nearest port
Major dates
- Station opened January 1955 (Belgrano) / February 5, 1979 (Belgrano II) / January 1980 (Belgrano III)
- Breaks in operation:
1978 (Belgrano) / 1984 (Belgrano III) - Station closed 1978 (Belgrano) / 1980 (Belgrano III)
Population
- 21 maximum summer population
- 21 average winter population
Meteorology
- +3.8°C maximum temperature
- -47°C minimum temperature
- 55% relative humidity
- 9833m/sec average wind speed
- 960hPa average atmospheric pressure
Additional notes
Climate information:Belgrano is in an area where strong storms circulate. These storms head north, producing strong winds which surpass 200 km/h. The maximum temperature is -2 degrees C and the minimum -54 degrees C.
Due to its location, the so called "Polar Night" takes place, with four months of absolute darkness.
Flora and fauna:
Limnology and moss of very simple formation that live in the rocks represent the flora. The fauna is only present during the summer with some seagulls, petrels and skuas.
| |
Science activities
The following science activities are carried out at Base Belgrano II:- Cosmic ray observations
- Geodesy/mapping
- Geomagnetic observations
- Glaciology - continental
- Glaciology - sea ice zone
- Ionospheric/auroral observations
- Meteorological observations
- Stratospheric ozone monitoring
- Terrestrial biology
| |
Station infrastructure
Area and buildings
- 60 000 sq m total station area
- 12 building(s)
- 15 000 sq m combined floor area
- 1 022 sq m used as accommodation
Power and fuel supply
- 150 KW power supply
- 31 KW power generation capacity
- 6 generator(s)
- Generators fuelled with GOA (Gas Oil Antarctic)
- 54 000 L of fuel used annually
Water and sewage
- Potable water supply source/method:
Melting - 720 000 L of water used each year
- Sewage treatment/disposal method:
Sea outfall
| |
Medical facilities
Base Belgrano II has the following medical facilities:- 21 sq m medical suite
- 1 doctor(s)
- 1 paramedic(s)
- 1 bed(s) for patients
- X-Ray facilities
| |
Logistic support
Ice
- Ice breakout: April
- Fast ice formation: December
Shipping
Air transport
- Glacier airstrip surface
Other support transport
- Snowmobiles: 16
- Rough terrain quads/tricycles: 4
| |
Station mobile plant
Mobile fire appliances
- 25
| |