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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF ORKNEY ISLANDS
On 6 December 1821, J. Powell discovered and named CORONATION ISLAND. Nine weeks later, J Weddell - not knowing about Powell's expedition - gave it the name of SOUTH ORKNEYS and set up the first geographical position.
According with the VIII International Congress of Geography's recommendations, which took place in Berlin during 1899. Doctor William Bruce at the end of 1902, started an expedition to drive scientific works on the Antarctic.
His ship - the Scotia - was forced to stay overwinter on LAURIE ISLAND because of pack-ice. On the island's isthmus was built a stone house, named OMOND HOUSE, in honour of one of the expedition's sponsors. A Meteorological Observatory was also built.
Late in 1903, the installations were offered to the Argentinian Government, which they acquired and took possession of on 22 February 1904.
Since then, ARGENTINA had prolonged and uninterrupted occupation, it being the oldest Base on the Antarctic Continent.
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Sign on museum at Orcadas Base
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The ship had radioed ahead for permission to land at the Argentine Base of ‘Orcadas’ which had been establish on South Orkney in 1904. A Scottish expedition had made a base there in 1903 and then offered it to the British Government which had rejected the offer so they instead offered it to the Argentines who have been there ever since and are not now likely to give it up.
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Antarctic Fur Seals
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Cemetery
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Living Quarters
South Orkney Islands
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On the beach we were greeted to some large fur seals and the Base Commander who showed us around, visiting the cemetery, the first building - ‘Omond House’ built by William Speirs Bruce for the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition and now fallen down, the museum and the living quarters. Thirteen men over-winter at the base but in summer the number increases to 45, including some women.
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'Omond House'
South Orkney Islands
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Inside Museum
South Orkney Islands
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Picture
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Inside living quarters
South Orkney Islands
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Adelie Penguin
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Leaving behind a crate of oranges and a couple of bottles of spirits, we set off back to the ship for lunch.
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Extract from leaflet suppied by the Base
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BASE NAVAL ORCADAS
1904 - 2004
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
1903: The Scottish Expedition arrives lead by Dr W Bruce. Omond House is built.
1904: The Argentinean government takes over the observatory mounted by Bruce. On February 22 the Argentinean flag is hoisted for the first time. This day is celebrated as Antarctic Day in Argentina.
1905: A new house is built, known as Casa Moneta.
1927: The radiotelegraph station is inaugurated.
1952: Argentine Navy is placed in charge of the Base.
1982: The new main house is inaugurated.
1992: The Base museum is inaugurated in Casa Moneta, is named after an expedition that stayed there.
INTERESTING DATA
Location of Orcadas Base:
60°14'02" South
44°44'00" West
On Laurie Island of the South Orkneys Archipelago, between Scotia Bay (south) Uruguay Bay (north), Mossman Hill (west) Num Glacier (east).
CLIMATE:
Absolute maximum temperature 15.2°C (1987)
Absolute minimum temperature -44°C (1972)
Maximum wind speed: 171 km/hr
Average annual snowfall: 409mm
Sunny days per year: 8 days
FACILITIES:
17 buildings consisting of houses, workshops, gas tanks and others such as emergency radio, power generator, refrigerating chamber for meat, dairy products and vegetables, laboratory, museum etc.
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