Today we got a tour of the tunnels at South Pole Station. The tunnels are an underground network of utility tunnels doug 50ft below the surface of the ice. They run all underneath the station, connect the summer camp with the main station, and the garage facilities. Sewage, water, and fuel run in these tunnels. They are also used to access the water supply caves and the undeground sewage cave for servicing.
Walking around these tunnels is a strange experience of the "underworld". You hear the heavy machinery driving above on the ice, combined with the smell of a distant sewage facility. In some remote corners winter crews have carved little, bizzare shrines into the wall of these ice tunnels.
The temperature in these tunnels is -55 deg C. All year round. Dress warm!
No comments:
Post a Comment