McMurdo Station: America's Antarctic Hub

The primary U.S. research station in Antarctica is McMurdo Station, located on the southern tip of Ross Island in the Ross Sea (77°51'S, 166°40'E).

Key Facts

• Operator: National Science Foundation (NSF) via U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP)
• Capacity: ~1,200 summer; ~250 winter-over
• Established: 1956 (Operation Deep Freeze)
• Role: Logistics hub for all USAP science (South Pole, field camps, ships, flights)
• Infrastructure: Harbor, airfield (Phoenix Airfield, ski-way), heliport, labs, dorms, galley, power plant, water plant, greenhouse, chapel, ATMs
• Science: Glaciology, geology, biology, astronomy, atmospheric science, marine ecology

Other U.S. Stations

• Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (geographic pole)
• Palmer Station (Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula)

McMurdo is the gateway to the continent—every U.S. Antarctic scientist passes through.