Virtual Tour - Life at the South Pole

It's not easy. It's actually similar to the environment that one would encounter in interplanetary travel, like if we go to Mars -- confined spaces, only a few people, and no way to "get away" by going outside because it's such a hostile environment. But, as people always do, they find ways to get the job done and have fun too. Having a rather substantial video library and collection of video games helps a lot.

Although it's pretty flat at the Pole, the piles built up from the bulldozers can make for some great sledding!

Every bit of waste has to be flown out of the continent again, so recycling is very important. Here are all the recycling containers in three places - inside a living area, inside the dome between buildings in a central area, and out by the jetway ready to go back to New Zealand. Photos: CARA/J. Sweitzer and R. Landsberg

Even more pictures

It's very dry at the Pole. Fire and water are constant concerns.

For the people who stay here over the long winter, the Sun, and its presence (or absence!) is a fairly big deal.

Living in this kind of harsh environment provides some unique challenges.

Miscellaneous snapshots of Life at the South Pole.

Naturally, a separate language has developed among people at the Pole. That link takes you out of the CARA virtual tour; use your browser's "back" button to come back here.

Go back to the map of the dome.

CARA's research and education programs are supported in part by the National Science Foundation under a cooperative agreement, grant number NSF OPP 89-20223. © Copyright 1998,1999,2000 by Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica. This copyright applies to all web pages and images created by CARA.