Antarctica Transportation - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Airports

total: 17 (2020)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 17 (2020)

over 3,047 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 4

Heliports

53 (2012)

note: all year-round and seasonal stations operated by National Antarctic Programs stations have some kind of helicopter landing facilities, prepared (helipads) or unprepared

Ports and terminals

most coastal stations have sparse and intermittent offshore anchorages; a few stations have basic wharf facilities

Transportation - note

US coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E) and Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only; all ships at port are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states parties to the Antarctic Treaty regulating the Antarctic Treaty area have to be complied with (see "Legal System"); The Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica (HCA), a commission of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate charts and other aids to navigation in support of safety of navigation in region; membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area

NOTE: The information regarding Antarctica on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Antarctica 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Antarctica 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.