Antarctica comes from the Greek word ?antarktike,? which literally means ?opposite to the north.? The continent is, of course, home to the southernmost point on Earth.

 
 
The Indian Antarctic Program is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional program under the control of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. In 1981 the Indian flag unfurled for the first time in Antarctica, marking the start of Southern Ocean expeditions under the environmental protocol of the Antarctic Treaty
 

Dr.Syed Zahoor Qasim  is a prominent Indian marine biologist. Qasim helped lead India’s exploration to Antarctica and guided the other seven expeditions from 1981 to 1988.book inidas journey o antartica
 
 
 
Col. Jatinder Kumar Bajaj, a member of one of the Indian expeditions to Antarctica, standing at the South Pole (17 January 1989)
The program gained global acceptance with India’s signing of the Antarctic Treaty and subsequent construction of the Dakshin Gangotri Antarctic research base in 1983,[1] superseded by the Maitri base from 1990. Under the program, atmospheric, biological, earth, chemical, and medical sciences are studied.Dakshin Gangotri was the first scientific base station of India situated in Antarctica, part of the Indian Antarctic Program. It is located at a distance of 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) from the South Pole.[1]It was established during the third Indian expedition to Antarctica in 1983-84. This was the first time an Indian team spent a winter in Antarctica to carry out scientific works. The station was built in eight weeks by an 81- member team.[2][3] Construction was completed late into January 1984 with help from the Indian army and Indian Republic Day was celebrated at the station along with the Soviets and East Germans

 One expedition costs up to ?200 million (US$3.0 million).[3] Logistical support to the various activities of the Indian Antarctic program is provided by the relevant branches of the Indian armed forces.[5] The launching point of Indian expeditions has varied from Goa in India to Cape Town in South Africa on 19th expedition during the time of NCAOR Founding Director Dr. P C Pandey in December 1999.[3] Over 70 institutes in India contributed to its Antarctic program as of 2007.[3]

Traveling to Maitri Station, Antarctica from The Field Museum on Vimeo.

2 Responses

  1. Very interesting article. It was interesting to read about the conquest of the Antarctic. I've been there a few years ago. I was a traveler, and was friends with like-minded people. I was then advised to experience the extreme trip. It was a beautiful cruise https://poseidonexpeditions.com/antarctica/. I advise all tour while you are young, it breaks the boundaries of your consciousness. It is very important.

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