It is Argentina's second historical Antarctic base, after the 1904 establishment of the Orcadas Naval Detachment, the world's first—and oldest—permanent settlement in Antarctica.[3]
As of 2014[update] Melchior is one of 13 research bases in Antarctica operated by Argentina.[4]
From 1947 to 1961 it served as a permanent base; since then it is open during the summer season only.[5]
History
Original wooden facilities at Melchior, January 1958
The archipelago was visited again the following year to continue with the cartographic work and to do maintenance duties on the lighthouse. Three years later, in 1946, the National Antarctic Commission sponsored a new exploration trip.[5]
This new expedition sailed away from the continent in January 1947, led by then Frigate Captain Luis M. García. It was made up of the light transports Patagonia and Chaco, the patrol ships ARA King and ARA Murature, the tankerMinistro Ezcurra and the whalerDon Samuel.[5]
The expedition arrived in Observatorio Island on the last day of 1947, and set up a hydrographic camp and basic astronomical observatory at Punta Gallows.[5]
It took 47 days of labor to dynamite the rock, lay down the groundwork for the radio antennae and build the main house: a semi-prefabricated building 27 m (89 ft) long and 7.50 m (24.6 ft) wide, with thermally insulated double walls and ceilings. It had a water boiler, two power generators, batteries and several radio transmitters.[5]
Two 25 m (82 ft) high antennae made possible to communicate with Buenos Aires through radio telegraphy. They also erected four 18 m (59 ft) towers for the 100 m (330 ft) per side rhombic antenna.[5]
The crew unloaded 300 t (300 long tons; 330 short tons) of equipment and supplies, including 150 t (150 long tons; 170 short tons) of coal, a difficult operation due to the high waves and lack of landing beaches. On 31 March 1947 the construction was finished. Patagonia was forced to leave the area as ice began to cover the seas. A brief farewell ceremony was held at the foot of the mast, where Captain García handed command of the new facilities over to Lieutenant Juan A. Nadaud.[5]
In 1952 Melchior became the main source for Antarctic weather forecasts, broadcasting reports three times per day.[5] Larger astronomic facilities were inaugurated in 1955; later, during the 1957–58 International Geophysical Year, the first automatic tide gauge in Antarctica was installed at the base.[5]
On 30 November 1961 Melchior was demoted to summer-only base.[5]
Melchior is located 1,205 km (749 mi) from Ushuaia, the nearest port city.
As of 2008[update] the base is composed of 4 buildings which can house a maximum crew of 15.[1][7]
It has a basic infirmary of 6 m2 (65 sq ft) attended by a paramedic.
Climate
The mean annual temperature at Melchior is −3.6 °C (25.5 °F). The absolute maximum temperature recorded was 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) on 30 January 1950, while the absolute minimum was −36.6 °C (−33.9 °F), on 9 August 1958.[5]
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