European Side of Antarctica

Here is a Google Map of the European Side of Antarctica. All shown stations are year-round stations except Aboa/Wasa (Finland/Sweden). Novo and Maitri are located near each other. Novo and Troll are the only runways that support wheel landings otherwise skis are needed. Troll accepts only scientific visitors but Novo makes also commercial deals.

Do not automatically expect support from research stations. They are not set up visitor hostels. Be self-sufficient in your plans and the equipment you carry. Be prepared to survive in the cold. Don't expect a rescue service. Check with the station managers in the area you are visiting before you visit Antarctica.

European Side of Antarctica

Year-round stations are:

Novo and Maitri (Russia and India) - 4200 km to Cape Town - wheel & ski
Troll Runway (Norway) - 350 km to Novo - wheel
Sanae (South Africa) -  200 km to Troll - ski
Neumayer (Germany) - 230 km to Sanae - ski
Halley (Great Britan) -  800 km to Neumayer - ski
Belgrano (Argentina) - 330 km to Halley - ?
Showa (Japan) - 1080 km to Novo - ski

Novo and Troll have the largest and best runways for large airplanes. ALCI is using these runways to connect the Antarctica to South Africa (Cape Town) using IL-76. The aircraft was first conceived by Ilyushin in 1967 to meet a requirement for a freighter able to carry a payload of 40 tons (88,000 lb) over a range of 5,000 km (2,700 nmi; 3,100 mi) in less than six hours, able to operate from short and unprepared airstrips, and capable of coping with the worst weather conditions likely to be experienced in Siberia and the Soviet Union's Arctic regions.

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