Orcadas Base: Antarctic history, a friendly welcome, and a haven for seabirds
Located on Laurie Island, within the South Orkney Island archipelago, Orcadas Base is an Argentine research station. It has been permanently inhabited since its formal establishment in 1904, making it the first permanently inhabited base in Antarctica.
Established on the site of Omond House, a meteorological station erected on Laurie Island in 1903 by Dr. William S. Bruce and as part of his Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, Orcadas Base was gifted to Argentine in 1904 with the permission and support of the British Consul in Buenos Aires. After leaving Laurie Island in 1903 to obtain supplies, Bruce negotiated the transfer of the base to Argentina with the understanding that scientific research would continue after the departure of the expedition. Therefore, in early January 1904, Omond House was gifted to Argentina, establishing what would become known as Orcadas Base.
In January 1904, Bruce's ship, the Scotia, returned to Laurie Island accompanied by Argentine officials, beginning the Argentinian tenure of what would become Orcadas Base. In the following years, more permanent structures were constructed. However, it would not be until 1927 that radio communications were established, linking Orcadas Base to Ushuaia, Argentina, and, thus, the rest of the world.
Today, Orcadas Base is one of two scientific research bases located in the South Orkney Islands. The other, the British Signy Research Station, is situated on Signy Island. Unlike Orcadas Base, Signy Station is not inhabited year-round. Orcadas Base is an accessible landing site for expedition cruises in the region, with friendly staff welcoming visitors and detailing the history of the base and the island, as well as fascinating historic ruins and exotic bird life.
A brief history of the ownership of Orcadas Base
Shortly after Argentina took ownership of the base, permanent Argentine residents settled there and set up a post office, claiming sovereignty by occupation. The United Kingdom had previously claimed sovereignty of Orcadas Base by discovery. Today, Orcadas Base remains an Argentine scientific research station. Both Great Britain and Argentina claim the wider South Orkney Islands, including Laurie Island under their respective Antarctic claims. However, The South Orkney Islands are administered under the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. Under this treaty, all claims of sovereignty are held in abeyance.
The other residents of Orcadas Base
While visiting Orcadas Base, you might see some of the regional seabirds that call Laurie Island home. These include breeding pairs of southern giant petrels, and with the permission of the base’s personnel, we might even visit nearby Punta Cormoran, which has an Adélie penguin colony.