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Wasa Research Station

Coordinates: 73°02′24″S 13°23′55″W / 73.039901°S 13.398584°W / -73.039901; -13.398584
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Wasa Station
Location of Wasa Research Station in Antarctica
Location of Wasa Research Station in Antarctica
Wasa Station
Location of Wasa Research Station in Antarctica
Coordinates: 73°02′24″S 13°23′55″W / 73.039901°S 13.398584°W / -73.039901; -13.398584
Country Sweden
Location in AntarcticaPrincess Martha Coast
Queen Maud Land
Antarctica
Administered bySwedish Polar Research Secretariat
Established1988 (1988)
Elevation440 m (1,440 ft)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • Summer
13
 • Winter
0
UN/LOCODEAQ WSA
TypeSeasonal
PeriodSummer
StatusOperational
ActivitiesVariable according to the expedition
WebsiteSwedish Polar Research Secretariat

The Wasa Research Station is a Swedish research facility in Antarctica, established in 1988/1989. It is situated next to the Finnish Aboa Research Station on the Basen nunatak in the Kraul Mountains in Queen Maud Land. The two stations cooperate, and are jointly referred to as the Nordenskiöld Base Camp.[2]

Purpose and facilities

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The Wasa Station is operated by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat during the summer season, and accommodates up to 20 people.[1] Its main building is 17.5 by 7.6 metres (57 ft × 25 ft), and constructed on top of 1.5-metre (4 ft 11 in) long supporting cylinders to avoid accumulation of snow. It features four bedrooms, a big kitchen and a living room. There is also a shower, a sauna and a laundry room. The station was designed to be extremely energy efficient, with energy supplied mainly by solar and wind power.

The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat has developed a system of tracked vehicles, sledges and housing modules for transportation to the scientists’ workplaces. Snowmobiles are used for shorter, less laborious fieldwork. Wasa and the other research stations in Dronning Maud Land are reached through the aviation partnership within DROMLaN, the Dronning Maud Land Air Network.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Antarctic Station Catalogue (PDF) (catalogue). Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs. August 2017. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-473-40409-3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Research Stations", Swedish Polar Research Secretariat