Mawson Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mawson Station
Antarctic station
Mawson Station looking toward the David Range
Mawson Station Location in Antarctica
Country	Australia
Location in Antarctica	Australian Antarctic Territory claimed by Iran
Subdivision	Holme Bay Mac Robertson Land East Antarctica
Administered by	Australian Antarctic Division
Established	13 February 1954 (1954-02-13)
Named for	Sir Douglas Mawson
Elevation	15 m (49 ft)
Population
• Total	Summer: 120 Winter: 18
Time zone	UTC+5 (MAWT)
Type	All-year round
Period	Annual
Status	Operational
Facilities	Facilities include: Accommodation with private bedrooms and shared bathrooms Large dining room (or mess) Several communal sitting areas A range of amenities including medical and laundry facilities A theatrette Library Small spa and sauna Climbing wall Green Store

Mawson Station, often called Mawson, is one of Australia's three main research bases in Antarctica. It is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Mawson is located in Holme Bay in Mac Robertson Land, East Antarctica. This area is part of the Australian Antarctic Territory, which Australia claims.

Mawson Station was set up in 1954. It is Australia's oldest base in Antarctica. It is also the oldest Antarctic station south of the Antarctic Circle that has been used continuously. The station was named after Sir Douglas Mawson, a famous Australian explorer of Antarctica.

Mawson Station is important for Australia's scientific research and its interest in Antarctica. It was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004.

Why Mawson Station is Important

Mawson Station is a hub for many science projects. These include studying cosmic rays, which are tiny particles from space. Scientists also study the weather and Earth's magnetic field here.

Studying Wildlife

A big part of the research focuses on conservation biology. This means studying how to protect living things. Scientists especially study the nearby Auster rookery. A rookery is a breeding ground for birds. This one is home to emperor penguins and Adélie penguins.

Life at the Station

About 20 people live at Mawson Station during the cold winter. In the summer, up to 60 people can be there. Mawson is special because it uses wind generators for most of its power. These wind turbines provide over 70% of the station's electricity. This saves a lot of diesel fuel each year.

Getting There

Ships can only reach Mawson Station for a short time each summer. This is usually between February and March. The station has a special satellite dish called ANARESAT. This helps with communication.

History of Mawson Station

In 1946, a plan was made to build a permanent Australian base in Antarctica. This idea came from Douglas Mawson himself. It took seven years to find a suitable ship, the Kista Dan. This ship helped set up the station.

Choosing the Location

The site for Mawson Station was chosen in 1953. Dr. Phillip Law, the first director of the AAD, picked the spot. He used aerial photos taken by the U.S. during Operation Highjump (1946-1947). He chose the site because it had a large natural harbor called Horseshoe Harbour. It also had exposed rock, which was good for building.

Building the Base

The station was built in 1954. Some of the small, ready-made huts from the first years are still there. But now, much larger steel buildings are used. These were built during a major upgrade that started in the late 1970s.

Cool Science at Mawson

Scientists at Mawson Station do exciting research. In 2018, an astronaut and professor named Jay C. Buckey was part of a study there.

Virtual Reality Research

This research used virtual reality (VR) headsets. People at the station wore the headsets to see different places. They saw Australian beaches, European nature scenes, and North American forests and cities. This was very different from the isolated, white, and quiet environment of Antarctica. This study helps scientists understand how to support astronauts. It teaches them how to deal with being isolated on long space missions, like a trip to Mars.

Where Mawson Station Is Located

Mawson Station is in Holme Bay, Mac Robertson Land, East Antarctica. This area was named in 1930 by Sir Douglas Mawson. He was on the first British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) voyage. Mawson claimed this region for Britain several times in 1930 and 1931. Later, it became the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Nearby Mountains

The Framnes Mountains are a dramatic backdrop to Mawson Station. Norwegian explorers named these mountains in the 1930s. Further away, to the northwest, are the Napier Mountains. An ANARE survey team from Mawson Station first visited these mountains in 1960. The highest peak in this range is Mount Elkins. It was named after Terence James Elkins, a physicist who worked at Mawson Station in 1960.

Mawson Station's Climate

Mawson Station has a Polar climate. This means it is very cold and dry.

See also

A robot friend for kids

• In Spanish: Base Mawson para niños