14 March 2017:
Chile built its first Antarctic base on Greenwich Island in 1947. Along with the UK’s Wordie House, this was one of the first bases to be built in Antarctica. As Chile was one of the 12 countries active in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (1957-58), it was therefore both a founder member of SCAR in 1958 and one of the original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959.
In Chile, Antarctic research is coordinated by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), which was created by the Chilean government in 1963. Chile is a member of COMNAP and has stations and shelters in various locations on the South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, and in the Patriot Hills region of the Ellsworth Mountains.
The Chilean Antarctic Programme has grown substantially over the past few years and we are pleased to share with you several reports highlighting their activities from the 2015-2016 season.