Maitri (research station)

Last updated

Maitri
Antarctic Research Station
An ariel view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on February 2,2005 (1).jpg
An aerial view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on 2 February 2005
Antarctica relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Maitri
Location of Maitri in Antarctica
Coordinates: 70°46′00″S11°43′55″E / 70.766667°S 11.731944°E / -70.766667; 11.731944
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
Location in Antarctica Queen Maud Land
Antarctica
Administered by National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
EstablishedJanuary 1989 (1989-01)
Elevation
[1]
117 m (384 ft)
Population
 (2017) [1]
 • Summer
45
 • Winter
25
UN/LOCODE AQ MTR
TypeAll-year round
PeriodAnnual
StatusOperational
Activities
List
  • Biology
  • Glaciology
  • Earth science
  • Meteorology
Website ncpor.res.in
Maitri under construction with lake Indira Priyadarshini in background (1988) Maitri Zaman.jpg
Maitri under construction with lake Indira Priyadarshini in background (1988)

Maitri also known as Friendship Research Centre, is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica as part of the Indian Antarctic Programme. The name was suggested by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Work on the station was first started by the Indian Antarctic expedition which arrived the end of December 1984, with a team led by Dr. B. B. Bhattacharya. Squadron Leader D. P. Joshi, the surgeon of the team, was the first camp commander of the tentage at camp Maitri. The first huts were started by the IV Antarctica Expedition and completed in 1989, shortly before the first station, Dakshin Gangotri, was buried in ice and abandoned in 1990–91. [2] Maitri is situated in the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis. It is only 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away from the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station.

Contents

Facilities

An aerial view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on 2 February 2005 An ariel view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on February 2,2005.jpg
An aerial view of the Indian Station Maitri, Antarctica on 2 February 2005

The station has modern facilities for research in various disciplines, such as biology, earth sciences, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, meteorology, cold region engineering, communication, human physiology, and medicine. It can accommodate 25 people for winter. Fresh water is provided through a freshwater lake named Lake Priyadarshini.

Airfield

ALCI Airbase
Novo Runway
Summary
Airport typePrivate
OperatorAntarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI)
ServesNovolazarevskaya and Maitri
Location Dronning Maud Land
Opened6 April 2014 (2014-04-06)
Time zone (UTC+3.30)
Coordinates 70°49′17″S11°38′36″E / 70.821517°S 11.643345°E / -70.821517; 11.643345
Map
Antarctica location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
ALCI Airbase
Novo Runway
Location of airfield in Antarctica
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
mft
3,0009,842Blue Ice

A blue ice runway, located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away, operated by Antarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI) serves the station and Novolazarevskaya.

Maitri-II

India is planning to replace Maitri research station by a new Maitri-2 station by 2029. [3] Following government approval, India plans for Maitri-II to be operational by January 2032, with a reserch grant of Rs.1250 crore to design and prepare a DPR. [4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Antarctic Station Catalogue (PDF) (catalogue). Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs. August 2017. p. 85. ISBN   978-0-473-40409-3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "Maitri". Polar Conservation Organisation. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  3. ↑ "India to replace 'very old' Maitri research station in Antarctica by 2029". WION. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.