Great Wall Station (Antarctica)

Great Wall Station
长城站
Great Wall Station
Great Wall Station
Location of Great Wall Station in Antarctica
Coordinates: 62°13′01″S 58°57′43″W / 62.216838°S 58.961855°W / -62.216838; -58.961855
Country China
Location in AntarcticaFildes Peninsula
King George Island
Administered byPolar Research Institute of China
Established20 February 1985 (1985-02-20)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2017)
  Summer
60
  Winter
13
UN/LOCODEAQ GWL
TypeAll-year round
PeriodAnnual
StatusOperational
Activities
List
  • Geology
  • Geomagnetism
  • Seismology
WebsiteChinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration

The Great Wall Station (Chinese: 长城站; pinyin: Chángchéng Zhàn) is the first Chinese research station in Antarctica and opened on 20 February 1985. It lies on the Fildes Peninsula on King George Island, 960 kilometres (600 mi) from Cape Horn. It is sited on ice-free rock, about 10 metres (33 ft) above sea level.

The station is about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) from the Chilean Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva. A 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long unpaved road, Zhongzhi Gonglu, provides convenient vehicle access from the station to Frei, Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Airport and Bellingshausen Station. The station collaborates with logistical support and sharing of facilities with other nearby stations from Chile, Russia, Uruguay, Korea and Brazil.