The logistics of living in Antarctica are simply too much to be believed really when you look at it. First things first, Antarctica is not owned by any one country. There are claims by many countries for land but for the most part the continent is treated like international territory, much like the oceans that surround the continents. Different countries have their different bases within different regions of the continent, usually based off of what kind of research they’re doing and what their needs are as far as land goes. But for the most part no one owns the continent outright, which means that thanks to an agreement between countries there are certain things that can’t be done that might be seen as okay in other countries.
No one can drill cultivate or in any way set down permanent roots that would define any part of the continent as their own. Antarctica remains international space no matter what, but the agreement is also that research can be conducted by various countries as needed, but in a non-destructive manner. But aside from that, life in Antarctica is kind of rough. Not only does a person need to take a ship or a plane there, but this can only happen during the summer months, as during the winter it gets dark and stays that way for 24 hours at a time. This means that those who stay on at each station throughout this period are there without any contact from the outside world for seven long months until the summer starts up again and the ships and planes can start making their way back.
They’re not entirely alone, as there are crews of a little over a hundred in some of the stations. But think of being in the same place for seven months with the same people and not being able to do much but stay inside unless something outside needs your attention. That’s a long time to play board games or read or do whatever other amusements the people bring to entertain themselves. It’s also time spent doing research and maintaining the facility since that long inside, messes will accumulate and people will do whatever comes natural when it comes to their personal habits. But in a place like this, where going outside could mean freezing to the ground during winter, people aren’t likely to be stepping out for a breath of fresh air all that often. It seems like a very long haul but there are people that have been doing this kind of thing for years now and have no doubt grown used to it.
In the summer the ice off the coast melts and the ships can start coming back, while the daylight allows the planes to start making their runs again. Much of what goes on in Antarctica depends on the weather and the terrain and how it’s used to ship the supplies and the needed personnel in with each load. Being stuck in Antarctica for seven months at a time seems brutal, but it might also seem like a getaway for anyone that’s not big on people.
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