People in Antarctica

Expeditioners off to count penguins (Photo: PJ)

Is it very different living in Antarctica?

In some obvious ways it is different from Australia, such as living among snow and ice and having very long periods of darkness in winter and light in summer. And of course it is very cold and often windy, like the top of a mountain. Living ‘in the field’, away from the main station, you experience this difference very strongly.

In other ways Antarctic life is quite like ‘home’ – people at the stations have fully insulated living and working quarters with their own rooms and bath/toilet facilities. The food is also very similar to what you would eat at home, although there is less fresh fruit and vegetables. Like at home, people must be able to live and work alongside other people and learn to be tolerant and supportive of others. This is sometimes difficult in a small community of 20 or so people living close to each other for many months.