- Vanda Station
Vanda Station was an Antarctic research base in the western highlands (
Victoria Land ) of theRoss Dependency , specifically on the shore ofLake Vanda , in theWright Valley . The four original station buildings were constructed in the austral summers of 1967-68 and 1968-69 just prior to the first winter-over by a five-man team from January toOctober 19 1969 (Harrowfield, 2006). Subsequent wintering parties occupied the station in 1970 and 1974. During summer seasons, Vanda station was fully staffed until 1991. Scientific programs principally included meteorology, hydrology, seismology, earth currents, and magnetics. The station was administered by theDepartment of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), and was supported logistically by the permanentNew Zealand research base ofScott Base onRoss Island .In
1995 , environment concerns resulted in the base being closed. Various activities associated with the base's occupation, including excavations, the erection of buildings, disturbances caused by vehicle movements, the storage of consumables, waste disposal, and accidental spills, led to the effort to remove the station. Since removal, analysis of the lake water and algae was performed for a number of years to ensure the lake was not contaminated bygrey water and other wastes.Vanda Station is the location of the highest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica, which was 15.0 °C or 59.0 °F on January 5, 1974.
There is now a street named after this base in
Queenstown, New Zealand — the street is called Vanda Place and is located just a few hundred metres from Scott Place.References
*"Vanda Station: History of an Antarctic Outpost" by David L. Harrowfield (Christchurch 1999 & 2006, New Zealand Antarctic Society Inc, 52 pp.) ISBN 0-473-06467-7
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