 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
Belgium opens scientific base in Antarctica
Utsteinen, Antarctica (AFP) Feb 15, 2009 Belgium opened a new scientific research centre in Antarctica Sunday -- 40 years after its last polar base there. Around 100 people attended the opening ceremony of "Princess Elisabeth", the brain child of Belgian explorer Alain Hubert, including government ministers, scientists and business partners. Private investors contributed almost 22 million euros (28 million dollars) to build the centre, 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the King Baudouin base abandoned in 1967. The new base, named after the first in line to the Belgian throne, can accomodate up to about 20 people at a time. Measuring 10 metres (yards) high and 22 metres wide, Princess Elisabeth is well insulated to prevent any waste of heating. Eight wind turbines and 400 m2 of solar panels provide the base with hot water and electricty. "To build a polar base which uses only wind and solar energy was an almost impossible task," said Alain Hubert. Construction workers laboured over the last two Antarctic summers to get the base completed. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Beyond the Ice Age
50 Years Of West Antarctic Warming
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 23, 2009The Antarctic Peninsula juts into the Southern Ocean, reaching farther north than any other part of the continent. The southernmost reach of global warming was believed to be limited to this narrow strip of land, while the rest of the continent was presumed to be cooling or stable. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook