McMurdo

Last Updated 27-10-04.

This is how the American Base looked in 1998. People dont realize that the loading dock against the boat is made from fresh water ice which is layered in cables and dirt. It is the only form of floating dock that will last the extreme conditions of the Antarctic life in the sea.

It also used to be the most polluted bay in the world according to Greenpeace. That is no longer the case because the American scientists and military no longer dump al their crap and toxic materials into the ocean. Although much of the damage to the environment is just under the surface (covered by tons and dirt) the new kind of people who populate Antarctica tend to try and respect the environment. This has meant that although you cannot undo the damage done by others you can stop make a genuine effort to start afresh and not make the mistakes of the past. This is what both NZ and America have done in a genuine attempt to respect the future and the past of Antarctica.

This is a good view of the back of the accommodation blocks in McMurdo. I dont know how many people can be looked after now but I think they could handle about 2000 people in the middle of their summer season peak. The saddle between the two hills is the way towards the oil storage tanks and then onto Scott Base. The hill to the right (Observation Hill) is often a good one to climb to the top and look out over the American base and then out towards the ocean.

On the lower level of the hill on the right you will see (if you look hard enough) a small plateau. In the old days there was rumored to be a small nuclear power plant which had previous been designed for a submarine. Again it was a typical example of the "old" administration ignoring the rules they had agreed to live by. Apparently the nuclear power plant never worked that well and was eventually removed and all evidence of it was removed as well. The funny thing is that these days nuclear power plants are far more reliable, and are often considered more environmental friendly than most other currently used forms of energy. Although I dont like the concept of Nuclear power and the damage it can do. I also dont like the effect burning fossil fuel's has on our environment.

The front part of the picture is the area just before the backwater bay.

Fire station at Mcmurdo. They take their job very seriously and run a very tight operation. There are limitations as to how long they can can have the trucks outside in the cold otherwise they start to freeze up.

Looking down at McMurdo from the top of observation Hill. But further back towards the gap. This is a storage area for the fuel's and also the road between Scott Base and McMurdo. The storage tanks are in mini bunkers so if there is any damage to a storage tank the fluids will (hopefully ) be contained. I hear the area has far more tanks now than in the past.

The fuel in general goes to fire up the diesel Generators at McMurdo. They are big and noisy and poke out a lot of power for McMurdo consumption and heating.

Most of us need our hair cut on a regular basis. These days we have all the little mod cons on the ice. It wasn't that long ago that you dont know who would cut your hair. It could be the bulldozer driver who would cut hair in his spare time and he only did it if you bought him a drink first. You would hope you where his first customer and not his last for the evening .

God is in many places and Antarctica is one of them. All you need to do is sit out on a desolated part of the ice somewhere and sit for a while. You will realize that god is everywhere. However if you prefer the guitar playing and hymn singing type of religious contact then the McMurdo Chapel is a good start.

The Skua center was a relatively new slant on an old process of recycling. If anything was thought to have any value ... clothing, books, footwear, typewriters, (anything) then is would hopefully be dumped into this small room with the hope that someone else would find it valuable and take it away. I spent many an afternoon ratting my way through the building trying to convince myself there where a few gems in there. I found some great army issue thermal gear and made good use of it over the next year. If you where in the right place at the right time then I heard that some people made some great finds. I hope they have improved the building as it was a great idea.

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27-10-04