Bulgarian Antarctic Base St. Kliment Ohridski, BG
Bulgarian Antarctic Base St. Kliment Ohridski, BG
The Bulgarian Antarctic Base (BAB) St. Kliment Ohridski is located on the Bulgarian Beach, South Bay, Livingston Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica. It is operated by the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute (BAI)
The base is used by scientists from Bulgaria and other nations for research in the field of geology, biology, glaciology, topography and geographic information.
The site elevation is between 12 to 15 m above sea level. The base location offers convenient access to Mount Friesland, Burdick Ridge, Mount Bowles, southern Hurd Peninsula and Varna Peninsula areas. The research performed at BAB ranges from glacier to biological and geological investigations on land and along the coast. An average of 25 people work at BAB during the austral summer, usually from late November until early March was the British Faraday station.
Contribution to POLARIN key research challenges:1,2,3,4,5
Contact:Dragomir Mateev and Marta Blunt     polar[at]gea.uni-sofia.bg
WebsiteÂhttp://www.bai-bg.net/bulgarian-base.html
https://polardex.org/ “St. Kliment Ohridinskiâ€
Facilities
The house has total area of 80 m2, and it has two sleeping rooms, a bathroom, a scientific laboratory, living room and a kitchenette. Between 2007–2010 were built two new houses (materials from Argentina) having four more bedrooms, a medical office and two scientific laboratories (geological and biological). In 2012 was built a new Ortodox chapel “St. Ivan Rilskiâ€. Thus the total capacity of the base was expanded to 25 persons, providing better conditions for work and living, as well as possibilities for winter stay, if necessary. An average of 20 people work at St. Kliment Ohridski during the austral summer, usually from late November or early December until early March. An office of the Bulgarian Posts has been operating at St. Kliment Ohridski since 1994, postal code BG 1090.
Services offered: BAB has provided technical and scientific support to many international researchers for over 30 years in which international scientists from 20 countries visited Livingston Island to study geology, biology, glaciology, and many other subjects.
What is included in the Access
Unit of access: User/day
Modalities of access offered: In-person access, remote access
What is included: Preparatory work, logistics, accommodation, food, insurance, medical care, technical support.
The typical duration of work is 10 – 30 days. Users will have full access to all the facilities and be part of the team.
Room sharing might be necessary, depending on the number of people at the base.
Availability for access in the 2024 call
1st December 2024 – 15th February 2025.
Time frame for access preparations
The logistic arrangements take place during the summer months for an upcoming season (May-September) and should be finalised mid- end September the latest.Â
Permits, licenses and training
Permits are required for the exportation of samples from Antarctica, as well as visits to Protected areas. It is crucial that researches state location/s and sampling clearly in their proposals in order for all permits to be obtained.
Medical guidelines
Prior the expedition, each participant in the expedition is obliged to undergo a medical examinations and tests requested by the medical commission of BAI, as well as a dental examination. Detailed information about the required tests, vaccines and other medical requirements will be obtained from the organizers of the expedition in the course of preparation.  Each participant in the expedition is also obliged to fill in and sign a Medical Questionnaire for the participants in the Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions to be transferred to BAI.
