Arrival at Marsh Base: To get to Marsh Base we had to take a Zodiac from the ship. It was impossible to get very close to the shore, because there were still many bergs in the bay, and the harbor had ice extending out from the shore for about a half a mile. The Chileans at the base were concerned about the safety of the ice. we wore special orange float suits in case the Zodiac capsized or we fell through the ice. The four of us, Dick Von Herzen, Jim Holik, Barney, and I had come to the base to pick up some computer equipment that was needed on the ship. The Chilean Military had flown the equipment from Chile to the base as a favor to the science research party. We were the first ship to come to the base this spring.
Marsh Base: Home to Chileans and Russians. Marsh base is a year round Chilean military base in Antarctica, located on King George Island. The Chilean government has a number of bases in Antarctica. The men stationed at the base live there with their families. There is a school, hospital, church, and places for the men and their family to have recreation. The school teaches all classes in English even though the native language of the Chileans is Spanish. The total population at the base is 52 people. There is a Russian research base next door to the Chilean base on King George Island. The Russians are here for scientific research.
Marsh Base Air Field. Nearly all provisions at Marsh Base arrive by airplane. There is a landing strip on the island where cargo planes can land. Helicopters also transprt materials to and from the base. In the event of a medical emergency, helicopters from the Chilean base have transported US and other foreign science researchers to hospitals for treatment. The perminant residents of this island know that cooperation is esential for survival.
The Russian Shop. During the spring and summer in Antarctica, research ships from all over the world stop at Marsh base. Some of the Russians have set up small stores in their homes selling Antarctic momentoes. This is the entrance to one of those "Shops". We stopped to visit and talk to the owner. In addition to running his small shop on the side, he was also a doctor at the Russian base.
Living at Marsh Base. The houses at Marsh base are large steel boxes that are raised up on piers so that the floors do not touch the ground. Since the ground is frozen year round, if a house were placed right on the ground, the heat from the floor would melt the ground and the house would sink. Building above the ground also enables the entries of the houses to remain free of snow in the winter. The most common form of transport is walking followed by snowmobiles on the base.