Dallas, TX, USA, and the South Pole share one thing – it is likely to reach 100 degrees there in July.But at the South Pole it will be 100 degrees below zero.If you were to stand outside naked, you’d be frozen in a single moment.

Even with these conditions, twenty-eight people commit six months to living at the South Pole. They have to deal with no sunlight, very little contact with the world, and no way to escape.They are meant to keep the American polar base in good condition, as well as observe and record scientific data.Advancements in technology and communications are changing their work.

Astronomers in North America can remotely operate the telescope in the observatories of the South Pole.No one had controlled the telescope at the South Pole prior to this event.Astronomers dream of one day being able to sit in a warm, comfortable office as they observe happenings at the South Pole.adventure antarctica tours

People on Antarctica have to deal with the coldest, driest, and windiest environments on Earth.It can be hard to breathe when you’re living at the elevation Antarctica maintaines.Therefore, only plants and animals that have adapted to the cold can survive there, such as various algaes, tundra vegetation, seals, and penguins.

“Winter-over” is the moniker given to people who spend their winter working in Antarctica for whatever reason.To make the experience better, they are given excellent food, some exercise equipment, computers, a pool table, and a variety of videos to watch.However, winter-overs do not typically share their experiences of what happens during their stay in Antarctica between February and October.antarctica vacations

One challenge faced by this crew is that the research program at the South Pole has continually grown and the research station is facing a great challenge in having a steady and consistent electrical supply.All of the power-hungry devices that are installed there, from computers to lasers to telescopes, are intermittently powered by the trio of oil-fueled generators.This causes winter-overs to have to deal with not enough power, crowed living arrangements, and cold buildings.

The winter months are broken up using some traditions.One is the “300 Club”, which requires a day when the outside temperature will be at least 100 degrees below zero.The sauna is stoked up to 200 degrees for maximum warmth.Then they race from the 200 degree sauna out into the minus 100 degree air, and back again.

Winter-overs also look forward to airdrops.This occurs in June. It is when the U.S. Air National Guard flies over the south pole in a military transport plane to drop pallets of food, mail, and other supplies.Heavy equipment is used to collect the pallets in order to be broken down and used.This is the closest winter-overs are able to come to any physical contact with the world outside the South Pole.

They do not even get to see a tree or travel more than a mile from the pole.Everyone who takes on this responsibility is given a week’s vacation at the McMurdo Station, which is a U.S Antarctic base.While on this vacation the winter-overs typically camp out in the wonderful 25-degree weather, sun bake on rocky beaches, and wear t-shirts and jeans.