Spanish Antarctic Station “Gabriel de Castilla”, ES
Spanish Antarctic Station “Gabriel de Castilla”, ES
Facility Operator: Spanish Antarctic Base Gabriel de Castilla, Ejercito de Tierra. Type of Entity: Government
Institution: Spanish Army / Ejercito de Tierra
Contact
–
Location
Located on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands it is a summer station opened, normally, from November to March. The area is located in an active volcano, and there is a unique community of organisms adapted to the geothermal activity. It is remarkably rich in criptogamic communities. There are several penguin rokeries. Over 57% of the island is covered by permanent glaciers. A ring of hills runs around the island and is the principal drainage divide, ephemeral springs flow toward the inner and outer coast. Several lakes are located on the interior side of the watershed. Kroner Lake is the only geothermal lagoon in the Antarctic.
The main way to arrive to the station is by ship from South America. It takes 4 days from Punta Arenas (Chile) or 3 from Ushuaia (Argentina). There is also the possibility to fly from Punta Arenas (Chile) to King George Island and then by ship come to the station. The flight is about 2.5 hours and the ship is about 8 hours. From King George Islands is also possible to come by helicopter.
Website
https://polardex.org/ Gabriel de Castilla
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61073506e9b0073c7eaaf464/t/611497cc1ece1b43f0eeca8a/1628739608968/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf
Facilities
In 1998 Gabriel de Castilla was designated formally as station. Nowadays the station Gabriel de Castilla provides a very good living and work conditions and it is ditribuited as follows:
– Building livingroom with kitchen, bakery and laundry room. Heating is incorporated.
– Building Sleepingroom witn bathroom (4 toilets, 4 showers and 6 washbasin). There are seven sleeping room with four beds each of them and one laundry room. Heating is incorporated.
– Scientist semipermanent building with two office, two labs, one enviroment issues lab (equiped) and a bathroom.
– Ribbon boat store container.
– Nautical equipment store container.
– Two materials of facilities container.
– Wet lab container
– Health container (infirmary container)
– Workshop building
– Three building iglus. Two are sleepingrooms. One is a wet lab.
– Logistic stores containers, Freezer container
– Incinerator
– Communication area.
Availability for access
Time frame for access preparation
Every year, from 1st January to 15th May, the Spanish Polar Committee (CPE) opens an access call to national, European and international projects intending to access the Spanish Antarctic Stations Juan Carlos I and Gabriel de Castilla.
Permits, licenses and training
After the access request is approved, the applicant will need to apply to his/her national polar authority for:
Environmental Impact Assessment certificate.
Permit for sampling (if needed).
Permit to restricted areas (if needed).
Training course on the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty before going to Antarctica Medical certificate for Antarctic activities issued by a competent polar authority Risk assessments according to the RI requirements and user’s employer.
Medical guidelines
Medical certificate for Antarctic activities issued by a competent polar authority.
