Hydrant
The story....
The Belgian government commissioned the International Polar Foundation (IPF) (www.polarfoundation.org) to co-ordinate the design and construction phase of the new Belgian research station between 2005 and 2007. The use of sustainable technology as the primary energy source, without compromising on functionality, comfort or safety requires an integrated design methodology similar to the one used in applied technology projects (cf. industry & space).
The new Belgian research station replaces the former Belgian Roi Baudouin base, built in 1958 on the ice shelf at Breid Bay in Dronning Maud Land. The new station is erected on the Utsteinen Ridge (71°57’S; 023°21’E), situated at the foot of the Sør Rondane Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, 173 km inland from the former Roi Baudouin base (1958 – 1967) and 55 km from the former Japanese Asuka station (1986 – 1992) (Figure left). Positioned halfway between Syowa station (684 km) and the Russian station Novolazarevskaya (431 km) it will fill in a 1072 km unoccupied stretch between these two stations in one of the least occupied sectors of Antarctica.
The Belgian Princess Elisabeth Polar base is situated on a small relatively flat granite ridge, sticking out of the snow (Figure right). The Ridge – oriented in a north-south direction – is 700 m long and a few meters wide and protrudes 20 m above the surrounding snow surface in the accumulation zone. The ridge has an altitude of almost 1400m above sea level.
