Location: Port Lockroy - Virtual Trip to Antarctica

Location: Port Lockroy - Virtual Trip to Antarctica
British Antarctic Survey
High Cross, Madingley Road
CAMBRIDGE
CB3 0ET
United Kingdom

* Telephone: +44 (0)1223 221400
Fax: +44 (0)1223 362616

Port Lockroy is currently the most visited site in the Antarctic, a popular stopping off place for the tourist vessels cruising the Antarctic Peninsula. The station is manned on behalf of United Kingdon Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) during the Antarctic summer in order to present the site to visitors. Early every season a BAS ship deploys two or three staff at the station who work there as conservators. It is at this time that food, stamps, souvenirs and any materials that are needed are taken ashore.

The large number of people visiting Port Lockroy presents the opportunity to monitor the disturbance caused to the gentoo penguins that nest around the station. A long term programme established to measure the disturbance has not yet detected any adverse effects of the tourists.

Relief at Port Lockroy - Click to enlargePort Lockroy is sited on Goudier Island in the Palmer Archipelago. The station is small and basic, compared to its modern day counterparts such as Rothera and Halley, but the spectacular mountain scenery, abundant wildlife and historical interest make Port Lockroy well worth a visit. The island itself is small and there is little opportunity to get off the island during the busy tourist season. However the station staff often get onboard the cruise ships as they bring in the visitors.

Â© NERC-BAS 2007