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Belgium opens scientific base in Antarctica
Utsteinen, Antarctica (AFP) Feb 15, 2009 Belgium opened a new scientific research centre in Antarctica Sunday -- 40 years after its last polar base there. Around 100 people attended the opening ceremony of "Princess Elisabeth", the brain child of Belgian explorer Alain Hubert, including government ministers, scientists and business partners. Private investors contributed almost 22 million euros (28 million dollars) to build the centre, 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the King Baudouin base abandoned in 1967. The new base, named after the first in line to the Belgian throne, can accomodate up to about 20 people at a time. Measuring 10 metres (yards) high and 22 metres wide, Princess Elisabeth is well insulated to prevent any waste of heating. Eight wind turbines and 400 m2 of solar panels provide the base with hot water and electricty. "To build a polar base which uses only wind and solar energy was an almost impossible task," said Alain Hubert. Construction workers laboured over the last two Antarctic summers to get the base completed. Related Links Beyond the Ice Age
50 Years Of West Antarctic Warming
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 23, 2009The Antarctic Peninsula juts into the Southern Ocean, reaching farther north than any other part of the continent. The southernmost reach of global warming was believed to be limited to this narrow strip of land, while the rest of the continent was presumed to be cooling or stable. |
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