Short facts about transportation in Antarctica
| Ports and
harbors: |
there are no developed ports and
harbors in Antarctica; most coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and
supplies are transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and
helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility US coastal stations
include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use
only except by permit (see Permit Office under "Legal System"); offshore
anchorage is sparse and intermittent |
| Airports: |
19
note: 27 stations,
operated by 16 national governments party to the Antarctic Treaty, have aircraft
landing facilities for either helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial
enterprises operate two additional aircraft landing facilities; helicopter pads
are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel, sea-ice,
blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft;
of these, 1 is greater than 3 km in length, 6 are between 2 km and 3 km in
length, 3 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 3 are less than 1 km in length,
and 2 are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use by
ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of
these, 4 are greater than 3 km in length, 3 are between 2 km and 3 km in length,
2 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 2 are less than 1 km in length, and 4 are
of unknown length; aircraft landing facilities generally subject to severe
restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic
conditions; aircraft landing facilities do not meet ICAO standards; advance
approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental operating
organization required for landing (2001 est.) |
| Airports -
with unpaved runways: |
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m:
4
under 914 m: 5 (2000
est.) |
| Heliports: |
27 stations have helicopter landing
facilities (helipads) (2001 est.) | Source: World Factbook |
