Mawson's Huts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mawson's Huts |
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View of Mawson's Huts during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition in 1911.
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 Mawson's Huts
Location in Antarctica
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| Coordinates | 67°00′31.6″S 142°39′39.7″E / 67.008778°S 142.661028°E |
| State/territory | Australian Antarctic Territory |
| Construction | |
| Built in | 1912 |
| Built by | Australasian Antarctic Expedition |
| Built for | Scientific outpost/exploration |
| Administration | |
| Maintained by | Australian Antarctic Division; Mawson's Huts Foundation |
| Facilities | |
| Water | Unlimited, in ice form |
| Accessibility | |
| Accessed by | Sea |
Mawson's Huts are a group of historic buildings in Antarctica. They are located at Cape Denison, in a part of Antarctica claimed by Australia. These huts are about 3000 kilometers south of Hobart, Tasmania.
The buildings were built and used by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) between 1911 and 1914. This expedition was led by Sir Douglas Mawson, a famous geologist and explorer.
Mawson's Huts are very special. They are one of only six sites left from the "Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration." This was a time (from the late 1800s to early 1900s) when brave explorers went to Antarctica. The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was unique because it was mainly organized and supported by Australians.
The huts included different buildings for science. There was a magnetograph hut to measure changes in the South Magnetic Pole. Another hut was used as a reference point for these magnetic studies. There was also a transit hut, which was an observatory for looking at the stars.
The most important building is the main living hut, called "Mawson's Hut." This hut had a pyramid-shaped roof. It was home to eighteen men from the expedition in 1912. Seven men, including Douglas Mawson, stayed for an unexpected second year in 1913. The hut had two parts: the living area and a workshop. Both parts were built in Australia and then shipped to Antarctica. The AAE team put them together in 1912.
Contents
Radio Communication: Connecting to the World
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was the first to use radio in Antarctica. They set up a wireless relay station on Macquarie Island. This allowed them to contact Australia by radio.
Thanks to this new technology, they could send weather observations all the time. This was a big step forward for Antarctic exploration.
The Main Hut: Home in the Ice
The main hut was designed for eighteen men. However, it was quite small! The living area was only about 7.3 meters by 7.3 meters. This is an area of about 53 square meters.
The workshop next to it was even smaller, about 5.5 meters by 4.9 meters. This is about 27 square meters. The building had verandas (covered walkways) on three sides. These verandas were about 1.5 meters wide. They were used for many things, including keeping the sled dogs safe from the harsh weather.
Inside the main hut, there was a kitchen for cooking meals. There was also a laundry area, a storage room for supplies, and a sleeping room where the men rested.
Protecting Mawson's Huts for the Future
Many groups work to protect Mawson's Huts. The Australian government, through the Australian Antarctic Division, has been doing this since the late 1970s. Private groups like Project Blizzard and the Mawson's Huts Foundation also help.
They do research, surveys, and repairs on the huts. This includes recording historical details and removing snow from inside the buildings. They also do ongoing maintenance. In recent years (1998 and 2006), new timber was added over the old roofs. This helps keep the huts dry and protected from the weather.
The site is very important and has special protection. Since 1972, it has been recognized as a Historic Site & Monument (HSM 77) under the Antarctic Treaty. It is also part of an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 162) and an Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA 3) since 2004.
In Australia, the huts are on the Australian National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritage List. In 2007, a new plan was made to guide how to preserve the huts. This plan helped prepare for the 100-year anniversary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition.
Visiting Mawson's Huts
Some adventure travel companies offer trips to Mawson's Huts. One company, Chimu Adventures, runs a voyage every year from Hobart, Tasmania. These trips often stop at Macquarie Island on the way. They usually return via the New Zealand sub-Antarctic islands.
Replica Hut: Learning About History
A copy of Mawson's Hut was built in Hobart, Tasmania, in 2013. This replica hut helps raise money to protect the real huts in Antarctica. It also teaches visitors about Douglas Mawson and the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. It's a great way to experience what the original hut was like!
Images for kids
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View of Mawson's Huts during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition in 1911.
See also
In Spanish: Cabañas de Mawson para niños
