McMurdo Station

The supply ship MV American Tern during cargo operations at McMurdo Station during Operation Deep Freeze 2007. The square building in the foreground is Discovery Hut.

A 10K-AT "All Terrain" forklift moves a loaded cargo-sled as part of an Operation Deep Freeze resupply mission

This 1983 image of USNS Southern Cross at McMurdo Station shows cargo operations on a floating ice pier. Such piers have been in use since 1973.

being led by the Russian icebreaker to McMurdo Station during Operation Deep Freeze 2006. Mount Erebus is visible in the background.

Annotated view over the Station, also showing Scott Base and the McMurdo Ice Shelf

United States Antarctic research station on the south tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand–claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica.

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Scott Base

New Zealand Antarctic research station at Pram Point on Ross Island near Mount Erebus in New Zealand's Ross Dependency territorial claim.

Aerial photograph of Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica.

Annotated view over Scott Base, also showing McMurdo Station and the McMurdo Ice Shelf

Sign for Scott Base on road to McMurdo Station

A pressure ridge in the Antarctic ice near Scott Base, with lenticular clouds in the sky.

The base is 3 km from the larger U.S. McMurdo Station via Pegasus Road.

Hut Point Peninsula

Long, narrow peninsula from 3 to 5 km wide and 24 km long, projecting south-west from the slopes of Mount Erebus on Ross Island, Antarctica.

McMurdo Station (US) and Scott Base (NZ) are Antarctic research stations located on the Hut Point Peninsula.

Ross Dependency

Region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south.

Mosaic of Landsat images, showing McMurdo Sound (right) and the Dry Valleys (left). Part of Ross Island is visible upper right.

Aerial photo of Mount Erebus on Ross Island

The scientific bases of Scott Base (New Zealand), McMurdo Station (US) Mario Zucchelli Station (Italy) and Jang Bogo Station (South Korea) are the only permanently occupied human habitations in the area, though Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station (US) is partially within the territory and dependent on logistics operations based in New Zealand.

Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station

United States scientific research station at the South Pole of the Earth.

The communication office at the South Pole

The main entrance to the former geodesic dome ramped down from the surface level. The base of the dome was originally at the surface level of the ice cap, but the base had been slowly buried by snow and ice.

An aerial view of the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station taken in about 1983. The central dome is shown along with the arches, with various storage buildings, and other auxiliary buildings such as garages and hangars.

The dome in January 2009, as seen from the new elevated station.

Ceremonial South Pole (the dome in the background was dismantled in 2009–2010).

January 2010: The last section of the old dome, before it was removed the next day.

An aerial view of the Amundsen–Scott Station in January 2005. The older domed station is visible on the right-hand side of this photo.

The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station during the 2007–2008 summer season.

A photo of the station at night. The new station can be seen in the far left, the electric power plant is in the center, and the old vehicle mechanic's garage in the lower right. The green light in the sky is part of the aurora australis.

Beginning in 1999–2000, the New York Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing took responsibility for the daily cargo and passenger flights between McMurdo Station and the South Pole during the summer.

Operation Deep Freeze

Codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on.

U.S. Navy R4D-5L "Dakota" making the first landing at the South Pole, 31 October 1956

Squadron patch for the Navy Antarctic Development Squadron SIX (VXE-6), known as the Puckered Penguins.

Admiral Richard Byrd on board USS Wyandot (Dec 1955)

USS Wyandot mooring at McMurdo Station (Dec 1955)

Helmut P. Jaron, Aurora Researcher at Byrd Station in 1961. The Jaron Cliffs are named for him.

A US Air Force C-141 Starlifter participating in Operation Deep Freeze.

Airmen saluting the last LC-130 to depart from Antarctica in 2010

They would stage from Christchurch International Airport in Christchurch, New Zealand to McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

McMurdo Sound

Sound in Antarctica.

An iceberg that calved off Iceberg B-15 caused extensive pack ice buildup in McMurdo Sound, blocking shipping and preventing penguin access to open water.

MV American Tern bringing supplies for McMurdo Station

Weather instruments such as this device installed upon Iceberg B-15A provide scientists a better understanding of Antarctica's impact upon global climate. Photograph by: Josh Landis. National Science Foundation

A research diver reaches towards a jellyfish that thrives in the -1.5 C salt water of McMurdo Sound.

Underwater photo showing the diverse animal life in McMurdo Sound, including the scallop Adamussium colbecki, sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri, sea sponge Homaxinella balfourensis, brittlestar Ophionotus victoriae and sea spider Colossendeis

The tanker USNS Lawrence N. Gianella on standby at Winter Quarters Bay near McMurdo Station. Photograph by: Peter Rejcek. National Science Foundation.

The Erebus Ice Tongue near the ship channel used during annual resupply missions to McMurdo Station (NASA)

Most visitors to Antarctica's frozen landscape arrive via ship-borne cruises.

A Zodiac inflatable is hoisted aboard an expedition cruise ship in Antarctic waters after ferrying passengers to shore.

Mount Erebus from Castle Rock, near McMurdo Station

Icebreakers near McMurdo Station, 29 December 1965

Antarctica's's largest scientific base, the United States' McMurdo Station, as well as the New Zealand Scott Base are on the southern shore of the island.

Ross Island

Island formed by four volcanoes in the Ross Sea near the continent of Antarctica, off the coast of Victoria Land in McMurdo Sound.

Today Ross Island is home to New Zealand's Scott Base, and the largest Antarctic settlement, the U.S. Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station.

United States Antarctic Program

Organization of the United States government which has presence in the Antarctica continent.

McMurdo Station (77°51' S, 166°40' E), the largest U.S. station in Antarctica, is situated on barren volcanic hills at the southern tip of Ross Island, about 3,827 km south of Christchurch, New Zealand and 1,350 km north of the South Pole.

Lockheed LC-130

Ski-equipped United States Air Force variant of the C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic.

An LC-130 "Skibird" assigned to the 139th Airlift Squadron, takes off

The primary mission of the LC-130 is supporting the scientific community in Antarctica by transporting cargo and personnel from the McMurdo Station to field stations and camps, including the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station.

Transantarctic Mountains

The Transantarctic Mountains (abbreviated TAM) comprise a mountain range of uplifted (primarily sedimentary) rock in Antarctica which extend, with some interruptions, across the continent from Cape Adare in northern Victoria Land to Coats Land.

Aerial view of the Dugdale Glacier in 1957

Mount Herschel (3,335 m) in the Admiralty Mountains subrange, as seen from Cape Hallett

David Glacier with the Drygalski Ice Tongue in the far distance

The Leverett Glacier in the Queen Maud Mountains is the planned route through the TAM for the overland supply road between McMurdo Station and Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station.