San Martín Base

The increased Antarctic activity that Argentina developed since 1940, along with the longstanding national interest to exercise effective sovereignty over one of the most remote areas of Antarctica created the need for a scientific station located south of the Antarctic Circle.

In order to transport the personnel and materials to Marguerite Bay, where the new settlement was to be built, the Argentine Navy hired the Santa Micaela. Commanded by Overseas Captain Santiago Farrell, it was a cargo ship belonging to the Argentine shipping company Pérez Companc S. A.

The Santa Micaela left the port of Buenos Aires on 12 February 1951, and on 8 March it anchored at Marguerite Bay. The last part of the trip it was escorted by the Argentine Navy tug ARA Sanavirón.

Over twelve working days the crew built the two-story main house with double wooden walls, a main deposit, an emergency house, five metal warehouses for supplies, housing for the dog packs, a power generator and the four towers for the {{convert|25|m|abbr=off}} high rhombic antenna.

San Martín was inaugurated on 21 March 1951, in the presence of the Santa Micaela and ARA Sanavirón crews and the base personnel led by then Colonel Hernán Pujato.

Since then, the meteorological station within the base provides detailed weather records and develops forecasts indispensable for the navigation of the sea waters adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula.

In March 1952 the ARA Bahía Aguirre anchored at Marguerite Bay bringing a relief crew through a Sikorsky S-51 helicopter transfer, the first of its kind performed by the Argentine Armed Forces in Antarctica.

On 30 June 1952 a fire, exacerbated by the ongoing blizzard, devoured the main house and two food stores, the power plant and the radio station. With rationed food and fuel, activities continued normally, carrying on with the explorations schedule as originally planned.

During the 1952–53 season, thick ice blocked the way of relief ships, which aggravated the situation for the twenty base inhabitants. On 26 March 1953 the Argentine Air Force Avro Lincoln nicknamed Cruz del Sur airdropped food and other priceless items.

Personnel at San Martín Base conducted several exploration expeditions to the northern and southern boundaries of the bay. They also crossed the Antarctic Peninsula mountain range, reaching the Mobiloil Inlet on the Weddell Sea.

In 1960 the base was closed; it was reactivated as permanent on 21 March 1976.

On 14 June 1962 an expedition led by then First Lieutenant Gustavo Adolfo Giró Tapper left Esperanza looking for a passage that would link the village with San Martín. Using snowcats and sleigh dogs they explored Duse Bay, Prince Gustav Channel, Cape Longing, Foca Nunataks, Ameghino Peninsula, Jason Island, Cape Robinson and Carreta Bay, where they had to leave the snow cats and continue with sleds to cross the cordillera. After reaching San Martín, they traveled back to Esperanza, where they arrived on 25 August. During the trip the party overcame numerous obstacles and withstood temperatures below {{convert|-43|C|abbr=on}} and katabatic winds of {{convert|220|km/h|abbr=on}}. This feat is considered even now as the most important ever made in the area.

Some unused installations of the base, a cross, a flagpole and a monolith erected in 1951, have been designated as Historic Site or Monument, following a proposal by Argentina to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.{{cite web|url=http://www.ats.aq/documents/ATCM35/WW/atcm35_ww003_e.pdf|title=List of Historic Sites and Monuments approved by the ATCM (2012)|publisher=Antarctic Treaty Secretariat|year=2012|access-date=28 October 2013}}

Marguerite Bay opens on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Wide and deep, the bay is closed between Belgrano and Alexander I islands, and the Fallieres Coast, making its access very difficult for most of the year due to the thick ice-covered waters.

In this zone, rarely visited because of the difficulties and hazards for navigation, there are several groups of islands, islets, rocks and reefs that draw a network of channels and fjords, usually frozen. Some of the most important islands are the Pourquoi Pas, Herradura, Caballete and Millerand, all of them next to the Debenham archipelago, where San Martín was built.

{{As of|2014}} San Martín is composed of 14 buildings spanning a total area of {{convert|18|ha|m2 sqft|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.dna.gov.ar/INTINFO/ARGPERES.HTM|title=Intercambio de información – Información Permanente|publisher=Dirección Nacional del Antártico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517141559/http://www.dna.gov.ar/INTINFO/ARGPERES.HTM|archive-date=17 May 2013}}

The base has several dependencies and facilities, namely: main house; airstrip; heliport; infirmary; chapel; main and auxiliary power plants; vehicle fleet (a number of ski-doos, and a few snow tracks and ATVs) and park, laboratory, mechanical and carpentry workshops, and several deposits.

The all-year capable airstrip is located on nearby Uspallata Glacier; during winter the deeply frozen sea is also used to land light aircraft.

The {{convert|20|m2|abbr=on}} infirmary and basic operating suite is attended by a doctor and a nurse; it has one bed, x-ray and odontological facilities.

San Martín is responsible for the maintenance of several Argentine-built refuges in the area: 17 de Agosto, El Plumerillo, Paso de los Andes, Chacabuco, Yapeyú, Maipo and Nogal de Saldán.

Glaciar McClary.jpg|McClary Glacier

Isla Millerand.jpg|Millerand Island

Promontorio Cuatro Romano.jpg|Punta Cuatro Romano

Glaciar Uspallata.jpg|Uspallata Glacier

The LASAN laboratory (LAboratorio SAN Martín), managed by the Argentine Antarctic Institute, carries out active scientific research in the areas of geomagnetism, riometry, meteorology, ionospheric surveying through high altitude weather balloons, phytoplankton biology, satellite geodesy, glaciology, etc.

An ongoing bilateral agreement between Argentina and Germany has prompted cooperation on glacier movement observations.

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Ona Refuge

| official_name =

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| settlement_type = Refuge

| image_skyline =

| imagesize = 270

| image_caption =

| image_map =

| mapsize = 270px

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_map_caption =

| pushpin_mapsize = 270

| pushpin_relief = yes

| pushpin_label_position =

| coordinates =

| coor_pinpoint =

| coordinates_footnotes =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flagcountry|Argentina}}

| subdivision_type1 = Location in Antarctic Peninsula

| subdivision_name1 = Barry Island
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica

| subdivision_type2 =

| subdivision_name2 =

| subdivision_type3 = Administered by

| subdivision_name3 = Tierra del Fuego Province

| established_title = Established

| established_date = {{start date|1995|df=y}}

| extinct_title =

| extinct_date =

| named_for =

| blank_name_sec1 = Type

| blank_info_sec1 = Seasonal

| blank1_name_sec1 =

| blank1_info_sec1 =

| blank2_name_sec1 =

| blank2_info_sec1 =

| blank_name_sec2 = Status

| blank_info_sec2 = Operational

}}

Refuge Ona ({{coord|68.1005|S|67.024972|W|format=dms|region:AQ|display=inline}}) is an Argentine Antarctic refuge installed and operated by the government of the Tierra del Fuego Province. The refuge was opened in 1995 and it is located {{convert|4.5|km}} from the San Martín Base on the glaciers of the Fallières Coast.

The construction of the refuge was part of the scientific project, called Perito Moreno, carried out under an agreement signed between the Instituto Antártico Argentino and the University of Freiburg in Germany. The researchers carry out studies on the displacement of glaciers and the dynamics of the snow layers. The shelter has a capacity for four people, food for 30 days, fuel, gas and first aid kit.{{cite web|url=https://eies.ats.aq/Ats.IE/ieGenRpt.aspx?idParty=1&period=2&idYear=2016#519bd760-0552-4ee5-bb60-ac7a754a0288|title=Argentina - 2016/2017 Annual Information|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115020640/https://eies.ats.aq/Ats.IE/ieGenRpt.aspx?idParty=1&period=2&idYear=2016#519bd760-0552-4ee5-bb60-ac7a754a0288|archive-date=January 15, 2021|publisher=Antarctic Treaty System|access-date=January 15, 2021}}

{{-}}

The San Martín base has a polar climate that is moderated by its coastline position, hence having a {{convert|1.6|C|F}} mean for the mildest month. The most significant feature in the area's climate is the violent wind, with speeds well in excess of {{convert|200|km/h|abbr=on}}, which significantly increases the chill factor; such strong winds often blow for five or six days in a row, making it impossible to stay outdoors and turning any simple external work into a very dangerous task.

The temperature is variable: on average it reaches {{convert|-37|C|abbr=on}} in winter and {{convert|8|C|abbr=on}} in summer. The sea freezes between the months of June to November, its average thickness being about {{convert|1.2|m|abbr=on}}. The average annual snowfall is {{convert|500|mm|abbr=on}}; some rains have been recorded in recent years.

{{Weather box

|location = San Martín (1991–2020, extremes 1976–present)

|single line = Yes

|metric first = Yes

|Jan record high C = 13.7

|Feb record high C = 14.3

|Mar record high C = 12.5

|Apr record high C = 9.8

|May record high C = 9.8

|Jun record high C = 7.9

|Jul record high C = 9.7

|Aug record high C = 14.0

|Sep record high C = 8.0

|Oct record high C = 9.4

|Nov record high C = 11.1

|Dec record high C = 11.5

|year record high C = 14.3

|Jan high C = 4.5

|Feb high C = 3.5

|Mar high C = 1.7

|Apr high C = -0.5

|May high C = -2.0

|Jun high C = -5.5

|Jul high C = -7.3

|Aug high C = -6.7

|Sep high C = -4.8

|Oct high C = -1.6

|Nov high C = 1.5

|Dec high C = 3.5

|year high C = -1.1

|Jan mean C = 1.9

|Feb mean C = 1.0

|Mar mean C = -0.8

|Apr mean C = -2.9

|May mean C = -4.8

|Jun mean C = -8.9

|Jul mean C = -11.5

|Aug mean C = -11.2

|Sep mean C = -9.0

|Oct mean C = -5.3

|Nov mean C = -1.8

|Dec mean C = 0.8

|year mean C = -4.4

|Jan low C = -0.5

|Feb low C = -1.3

|Mar low C = -3.5

|Apr low C = -5.5

|May low C = -7.8

|Jun low C = -13.0

|Jul low C = -16.1

|Aug low C = -16.3

|Sep low C = -14.1

|Oct low C = -9.6

|Nov low C = -5.4

|Dec low C = -2.0

|year low C = -7.9

|Jan record low C = -10.7

|Feb record low C = -12.0

|Mar record low C = -21.0

|Apr record low C = -24.0

|May record low C = -31.0

|Jun record low C = -37.5

|Jul record low C = -42.0

|Aug record low C = -47.0

|Sep record low C = -41.0

|Oct record low C = -35.4

|Nov record low C = -23.6

|Dec record low C = -15.0

|year record low C = -47.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 13.8

|Feb precipitation mm = 46.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 48.3

|Apr precipitation mm = 33.1

|May precipitation mm = 34.4

|Jun precipitation mm = 28.0

|Jul precipitation mm = 39.4

|Aug precipitation mm = 36.4

|Sep precipitation mm = 40.9

|Oct precipitation mm = 32.2

|Nov precipitation mm = 30.4

|Dec precipitation mm = 27.0

|year precipitation mm = 410.4

|Jan snow days = 9.4

|Feb snow days = 10.7

|Mar snow days = 13.7

|Apr snow days = 13.1

|May snow days = 14.6

|Jun snow days = 12.3

|Jul snow days = 13.9

|Aug snow days = 13.8

|Sep snow days = 15.5

|Oct snow days = 15.1

|Nov snow days = 12.2

|Dec snow days = 9.9

|year snow days = 154.1

|Jan sun = 158.1

|Feb sun = 79.1

|Mar sun = 58.9

|Apr sun = 36.0

|May sun = 3.1

|Jun sun = 0.0

|Jul sun = 0.0

|Aug sun = 18.6

|Sep sun = 51.0

|Oct sun = 74.4

|Nov sun = 126.0

|Dec sun = 179.8

|year sun = 785.0

|Jand sun = 5.1

|Febd sun = 2.8

|Mard sun = 1.9

|Aprd sun = 1.2

|Mayd sun = 0.1

|Jund sun = 0.0

|Juld sun = 0.0

|Augd sun = 0.6

|Sepd sun = 1.7

|Octd sun = 2.4

|Novd sun = 4.2

|Decd sun = 5.8

|yeard sun = 2.1

|source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (precipitation 2001–2010){{cite web

| url = https://ssl.smn.gob.ar/dpd/observaciones/estadisticas_normales_9120.zip

| title = Estadísticas Climatológicas Normales - período 1991-2020

| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

| language = es

| access-date = 16 May 2023}}{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230708235600/http://repositorio.smn.gob.ar/bitstream/handle/20.500.12160/2506/estad%C3%ADsticas_climatol%C3%B3gicas_normales_1991-2020.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y

| archive-date = 8 July 2023

| url = http://repositorio.smn.gob.ar/handle/20.500.12160/2506

| title = Estadísticas Climatológicas Normales – período 1991–2020

| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

| language = es

| access-date = 8 July 2023

| year = 2023}}{{cite web

| url = http://www3.smn.gob.ar/serviciosclimaticos/?mod=turismo&id=7&provincia=Ant%E1rtida&ciudad=B.%20San%20Mart%EDn

| language = es

| title = Servicios Climáticos – Información de Turismo – B. San Martín – Datos estadísticos (período 1981–1990)

| publisher = National Meteorological Service of Argentina

| access-date = 4 February 2013}}

{{cite web

|url = https://www2.smn.gob.ar/caracterizaci%C3%B3n-estad%C3%ADsticas-de-largo-plazo

|title = Clima en la Argentina: Guia Climática por Base San Martín

|work = Caracterización: Estadísticas de largo plazo

|publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

|language = es

|access-date = 4 November 2017

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904022616/https://www2.smn.gob.ar/caracterizaci%C3%B3n-estad%C3%ADsticas-de-largo-plazo

|archive-date = 4 September 2017

}}

|source 2 = Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)

{{cite web

| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1487

| title = Station Base San Martin

| publisher = Meteo Climat

|language = fr

| access-date = 11 June 2016}}

|date=August 2010

}}

• Argentine Antarctica
• List of Antarctic research stations
• List of Antarctic field camps
• Crime in Antarctica

;Notes

{{notelist-ua}}

;Citations

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|San Martín Station|San Martín Base}}

• [http://www.marambio.aq/sanmartin.html Fundaciòn Marambio – Base San Martín] {{in lang|es}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110303004340/http://www.dna.gov.ar/INGLES/INDEX.HTM Dirección Nacional del Antártico] {{in lang|es}}
• {{official|https://cancilleria.gob.ar/es/iniciativas/dna/antartida-argentina/bases/san-martin}}

{{Portal bar|Earth sciences|Geography|Argentina}}

{{ArgentineAntarctica}}

{{Antarctic research stations}}

{{Antarctic fields camp}}

{{Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica}}

{{Antarctica}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:San Martin Base}}

San Martin

Category:Populated places established in 1951

Category:Historic Sites and Monuments of Antarctica

Category:1951 establishments in Antarctica