Winter Island (Antarctica) facts for kids
Wordie House on Winter Island
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 Winter Island
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 65°15′S 64°16′W / 65.250°S 64.267°W |
| Archipelago | Argentine Islands, Wilhelm Archipelago |
| Length | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
Winter Island is a small island in Antarctica. It is about 900 meters (about 984 yards) long. The island is located near Skua Island in a group called the Argentine Islands. These islands are part of the Wilhelm Archipelago, which is off the west coast of Graham Land.
Contents
Exploring Winter Island's Past
Winter Island got its name from a group of explorers called the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE). They explored this area between 1934 and 1937. In 1935, they used Winter Island as their main base during the cold winter months.
The Story of Wordie House
In 1947, another group, the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, built a new base on Winter Island. This base was known as Base F. The main building they constructed was called "Wordie House." It was built where the old BGLE hut used to be.
Wordie House was named after Sir James Wordie. He was an important member of Shackleton's famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Sir James Wordie even visited the site while the house was being built.
How Wordie House Was Built
The materials used to build Wordie House came from other places. Some parts came from a hut at Port Lockroy. Other materials were reused from an old whaling station on Deception Island. This shows how resourceful the builders were in Antarctica.
Moving the Science Station
In May 1954, the science work and station operations moved from Wordie House. They moved to a new building on a nearby island called Galindez Island. The new station was first named Faraday. It continued the important weather studies that had started at Wordie House.
Later, in 1996, the United Kingdom gave the Faraday station to Ukraine. It was then renamed Vernadsky.
A Brief Return to Wordie House
In 1960, Wordie House was used again for a short time. A group of people could not reach their planned base on Adelaide Island. Because of this, they had to spend the winter in Wordie House.
What's Inside Wordie House Today?
Wordie House has several rooms. These include a kitchen, a living room, a generator shed, an office, a dog room, and a toilet. Many original items are still found inside the hut. It's like a time capsule!
Outside the hut, you can still see a wooden flagpole. There is also a rare wooden sign that says "British Crown Land."
Life at the Base
In its early years, about four to five people usually lived and worked at Wordie House. Today, you can still see many items from their daily lives. These include cans of coffee, tools, paint cans, plates, pots, pans, books, and typewriters. There is also old radio equipment. These items help us imagine what life was like at one of the first science stations in Antarctica.
Wordie House: A Special Historic Place
Wordie House is very important historically. It is a great example of an early British science base in Antarctica. Because of its importance, it has been carefully restored.
It is now recognized as a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 62). This special status was suggested by the United Kingdom to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. This means it is protected under international agreements.
If you want to learn more, the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust has a special guide for visitors to Wordie House.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Winter (Antártida) para niños
