# Research stations in Antarctica

Multiple governments have set up permanent research stations in Antarctica and these bases are widely distributed. Unlike the drifting ice stations set up in the Arctic, the current research stations of the Antarctic are constructed either on rocks or on ice that are (for practical purposes) fixed in place.
Many of these stations are staffed throughout the year. Of the 56 signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, a total of 55 countries (as of 2023) operate seasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent. The number of people performing and supporting scientific research on the continent and nearby islands varies from approximately 4,800 during the summer to around 1,200 during the winter (June). In addition to these permanent stations, approximately 30 field camps are established each summer to support specific projects.

## History
### First bases

During the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration in the late 19th century, the first bases on the continent were established. In 1898, Carsten Borchgrevink, a Norwegian/British explorer, led the British Antarctic Expedition to Cape Adare, where he established the first Antarctic base on Ridley Beach. This expedition is often referred to now as the Southern Cross Expedition, after the expedition's ship name. Most of the staff were Norwegian, but the funds for the expedition were British, provided by Sir George Newnes. The 10 members of this expedition explored Robertson Bay to the west of Cape Adare by dog teams, and later, after being picked up by the ship at the base, went ashore on the Ross Ice Shelf for brief journeys. The expedition hut is still in good condition and is visited frequently by tourists.
The hut was later occupied by Scott's Northern Party under the command of Victor Campbell for a year in 1911, after its attempt to explore the eastern end of the ice shelf discovered Roald Amundsen already ashore preparing for his assault on the South Pole.
In 1903, William S. Bruce's Scottish National Antarctic Expedition set off to Antarctica, with one of its aims to establish a meteorological station in the area. After the expedition failed to find land, Bruce decided to head back to Laurie Island in the South Orkneys and find an anchorage there. The islands were well-situated as a site for a meteorological station, and their relative proximity to the South American mainland allowed a permanent station to be established. Bruce instituted a comprehensive program of work, involving meteorological readings, trawling for marine samples, botanical excursions, and the collection of biological and geological specimens.
The major task completed during this time was the construction of a stone building, christened "Omond House". This was to act as living accommodation for the parties that would remain on Laurie Island to operate the proposed meteorological laboratory. The building was constructed from local materials using the dry stone method, with a roof improvised from wood and canvas sheeting. The completed house was 20 feet by 20 feet square (6m × 6m), with two windows, fitted as quarters for six people. Rudmose Brown wrote: "Considering that we had no mortar and no masons' tools it is a wonderfully fine house and very lasting. I should think it will be standing a century hence ..."
Bruce later offered to transfer the station and instruments to Argentina on the condition that the government committed itself to the continuation of the scientific mission. Bruce informed the British officer William Haggard of his intentions in December 1903, and Haggard ratified the terms of Bruce's proposition.
The Scotia sailed back for Laurie Island on 14 January 1904, transporting Argentinean officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, National Meteorological Office, Ministry of Livestock and National Postal and Telegraphs Office. In 1906, Argentina communicated to the international community the establishment of a permanent base on the South Orkney Islands.

### Expansion

Little happened for the following forty years.
The United States starting under the leadership of Admiral Richard E. Byrd constructed a series of five bases near the Bay of Whales named Little America between 1929 and 1958. All of them have now drifted off to sea on icebergs.
Before the start of the Second World War, German aircraft had dropped markers with swastikas across Queen Maud Land in an attempt to create a territorial claim (New Swabia).
In 1943 the British launched Operation Tabarin, to establish a presence on the continent. The chief reason was to establish solid British claims to various uninhabited islands and parts of Antarctica, reinforced by Argentine sympathies toward Germany.
Led by Lieutenant James Marr, the 14-strong team left the Falkland Islands in two ships, HMS William Scoresby (a minesweeping trawler) and HMS Fitzroy, on Saturday, January 29, 1944. Marr had accompanied the British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton on his final Antarctic expedition in 1921–22. Bases were established during February near the abandoned Norwegian whaling station on Deception Island, where the Union Flag was hoisted in place of Argentine flags, and at Port Lockroy (on February 11) on the coast of Graham Land. A further base was founded at Hope Bay on February 13, 1945, after a failed attempt to unload stores on February 7, 1944. These were the first permanent bases to be constructed on the Antarctic mainland.
A massive expansion in international activity followed the war. Chile organized its First Chilean Antarctic Expedition in 1947–48. Among other accomplishments, it brought the Chilean president Gabriel González Videla to personally inaugurate one of its bases, thereby becoming the first head of state to set foot on the continent. Signy Research Station (UK) was established in 1947, Australia's Mawson Station in 1954, Dumont d'Urville Station was the first French station in 1956. In that same year, the United States built McMurdo Station and Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, and the Soviet Union built Mirny Station.

### The Antarctic Treaty

The Antarctic Treaty, first signed on 1 December 1959 by 12 countries, stated that scientific investigations in research stations in Antarctica can continue, but all observations must be shared. The Antarctic Treaty also stated that Antarctica can only be used for peaceful purposes and any exploitation of the continent such as mining is forbidden, thus scientific research is the only activity that may be performed on Antarctica. As more countries established research stations on Antarctica, the number of signatories of the treaty increased, with 56 signatories as of 2023, 55 of whom utilize their rights and operate research stations in Antarctica. 7 of the signatories also laid claims on Antarctica (and 4 reserved their rights to do so), with the intention of expanding research in those territories in the future. However, research facilities have also been established by countries in the claimed area of other countries.

## Permanent active stations

* United States (24.98%)
* Argentina (12.66%)
* Chile (9.87%)
* United Kingdom (6.13%)
* France (6.03%)
* Australia (5.88%)
* Russia (5.3%)
* Japan (3.53%)
* China (3.45%)
* Italy (3.22%)
* South Africa (2.86%)
* South Korea (2.7%)
* India (1.89%)
* Germany (1.7%)
* New Zealand (1.62%)
* Spain (1.25%)
* Norway (1.21%)
* Other (5.72%)
The United States maintains the southernmost base, Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, and the largest base and research station in Antarctica, McMurdo Station. The second-southernmost base is the Chinese Kunlun Station at 80°25′2″S during the summer season, and the Russian Vostok Station at 78°27′50″S during the winter season.
| Name | Location | Country | Administration | Year est. | Max. pers. | Summer pop. | Winter pop. | UTC offset | Mean annual temp. (°C) |
| Amundsen–Scott South Pole | Geographical South Pole | United States | United States Antarctic Program | 1957 | 153 | 150 | 49 | +12 | −49.5 |
| Arctowski | King George Island | Poland | Polish Academy of Sciences | 1977 | 40 | 40 | 16 | −3 | −1.6 |
| Arrival Heights Laboratory | Ross Island | New Zealand | Antarctica New Zealand | 1959 | | | | +12 | −19.7 |
| Artigas | King George Island | Uruguay | Uruguayan Antarctic Institute | 1984 | 60 | 9 | 8 | −3 | −0.9 |
| Arturo Prat | Greenwich Island | Chile | Chilean Navy | 1947 | 30 | 30 | 8 | −3 | −2.0 |
| Belgrano II | Coats Land | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1979 | 20 | 24 | 19 | −3 | −13.3 |
| Bellingshausen | King George Island | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1968 | 40 | 40 | 20 | −3 | −2.3 |
| Bharati | Larsemann Hills | India | National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research | 2012 | 47 | 46 | 23 | +5:30 | −10.2 |
| Carlini | King George Island | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1953 | 80 | 80 | 29 | −3 | −1.6 |
| Casey | Vincennes Bay | Australia | Australian Antarctic Division | 1957 | 99 | 99 | 21 | +8 | −5.9 |
| Comandante Ferraz | King George Island | Brazil | Brazilian Antarctic Program | 1984 | 64 | 35 | 15 | −3 | −1.8 |
| Concordia | Dome C, Antarctic Plateau | Italy France | National Antarctic Research Program, IPEV | 2005 | 80 | 70 | 13 | +8 | −51.7 |
| Davis | Princess Elizabeth Land | Australia | Australian Antarctic Division | 1957 | 91 | 91 | 17 | +7 | −7.3 |
| Dumont d'Urville | Adélie Land | France | IPEV | 1956 | 90 | 90 | 24 | +10 | −11.1 |
| Eco-Nelson | Nelson Island | Czech Republic | Czech Antarctic Foundation | 1988 | 8 | 5 | 5 | −3 | −2.3 |
| Eduardo Frei and Villa Las Estrellas | King George Island | Chile | Chilean Air Force | 1969 | 150 | 150 | 80 | −3 | −2.3 |
| Escudero | King George Island | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 1995 | 90 | 60 | 2 | −3 | −2.3 |
| Esperanza | Hope Bay | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1953 | 90 | 116 | 56 | −3 | −4.6 |
| GARS | Cape Legoupil | Germany | German Aerospace Center | 1991 | 10 | | | | −3.9 |
| General Bernardo O'Higgins | Cape Legoupil | Chile | Chilean Army | 1948 | 60 | 52 | 24 | −3 | −3.9 |
| Great Wall | King George Island | China | Polar Research Institute of China | 1985 | 60 | 60 | 13 | −3 | −2.5 |
| Halley | Brunt Ice Shelf | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 2013 | 52 | 70 | 17 | −3 | −18.5 |
| Jang Bogo | Terra Nova Bay | South Korea | Korea Polar Research Institute | 2014 | 62 | 62 | 23 | +11 | −15.1 |
| King Sejong | King George Island | South Korea | Korea Polar Research Institute | 1988 | 68 | 68 | 22 | −3 | −1.8 |
| Maitri | Schirmacher Oasis | India | National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research | 1989 | 65 | 45 | 25 | +5:30 | −9.7 |
| Marambio | Marambio Island | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1969 | 165 | 165 | 70 | −3 | −8.1 |
| Mawson | Mac Robertson Land | Australia | Australian Antarctic Division | 1954 | 53 | 53 | 15 | +6 | −8.3 |
| McMurdo | Ross Island | United States | United States Antarctic Program | 1956 | 1200 | 1000 | 153 | +12 | −17.3 |
| Mirny | Davis Sea | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1956 | 50 | 50 | 25 | +6 | −11.3 |
| Neumayer III | Atka Bay | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 2009 | 60 | 60 | 9 | 0 | −16.0 |
| Novolazarevskaya | Queen Maud Land | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1961 | 70 | 70 | 40 | 0 | −10.3 |
| Orcadas | Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino, Argentine Navy | 1903 | 65 | 35 | 17 | −3 | −3.0 |
| Palmer | Anvers Island | United States | United States Antarctic Program | 1968 | 46 | 44 | 13 | −3 | −1.8 |
| Progress | Prydz Bay | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1988 | 50 | 50 | 25 | −5 | −9.4 |
| Qinling | Inexpressible Island, Terra Nova Bay | China | Polar Research Institute of China | 2024 | 80 | 80 | 30 | +12 | |
| Rothera | Adelaide Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1975 | 136 | 160 | 27 | −3 | −5.3 |
| San Martín | Barry Island | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1951 | 21 | 19 | 21 | −3 | −4.6 |
| SANAE IV | Vesleskarvet, Queen Maud Land | South Africa | South African National Antarctic Programme | 1997 | 80 | 110 | 15 | +2 | −16.5 |
| Scott Base | Ross Island | New Zealand | Antarctica New Zealand | 1957 | 86 | 78 | 11 | +12 | −19.6 |
| Showa | East Ongul Island | Japan | National Institute of Polar Research | 1957 | 130 | 170 | 40 | +3 | −10.5 |
| Troll | Queen Maud Land | Norway | Norwegian Polar Institute | 1990 | 70 | 45 | 7 | 0 | −18.0 |
| Vernadsky | Galindez Island | Ukraine | National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine | 1994 | 24 | 30 | 12 | −3 | −3.3 |
| Vostok | Antarctic Ice Sheet | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1957 | 30 | 30 | 15 | +6 | −55.2 |
| Zhongshan | Larsemann Hills, Prydz Bay | China | Polar Research Institute of China | 1989 | 60 | 60 | 17 | +7 | −11.2 |

### Subantarctic stations

| Name | Location | Country | Administration | Year est. | Summer pop. | Winter pop. | UTC offset | Mean annual temp. (°C) |
| Alfred Faure | Île de la Possession | France | French Polar Institute | 1963 | 45 | 24 | +5 | 5.3 |
| Bird | Bird Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1957 | 10 | 4 | −2 | −0.2 |
| Campbell | Campbell Island | New Zealand | MetService | 1946 | 0 | 0 | +12 | 7.0 |
| Gough | Gough Island | South Africa | South African Weather Service | 1956 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 11.5 |
| King Edward Point | King Edward Point | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1950 | 22 | 12 | −2 | 1.6 |
| Macquarie | Macquarie Island | Australia | Australian Antarctic Division | 1911 | 40 | 16 | +10 | 4.9 |
| Marion | Prince Edward Islands | South Africa | South African National Antarctic Programme | 1948 | 18 | 18 | +3 | 5.5 |
| Norvegia | Bouvet Island | Norway | Norwegian Polar Institute | 1927 | 6 | 0 | | -1 |
| Port-aux-Français | Kerguelen Islands | France | French Polar Institute | 1963 | 120 | 45 | +5 | 5.2 |

## Summer-only active stations

| Name | Location | Country | Admin. | Year est. | Max. pers. | Summer pop. | UTC offset | Mean annual temp. (°C) |
| Aboa | Queen Maud Land | Finland | Finnish Antarctic Research Program | 1988 | 17 | 13 | | −15.3 |
| Brown | Paradise Harbor | Argentina | Instituto Antártico Argentino | 1951 | 12 | 12 | −3 | −2.4 |
| Cámara | Half Moon Island | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1953 | 22 | 20 | −3 | −2.4 |
| Carvajal | Adelaide Island | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 1984 | 46 | 46 | | −9.8 |
| Collins | Fildes Peninsula | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 2006 | | 6 | | |
| Dallmann | Carlini Station | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 1994 | 16 | 16 | | −2.4 |
| Deception | Deception Island | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1948 | 36 | 18 | −3 | −3.0 |
| Dirck Gerritsz Laboratory | Rothera Station | Netherlands | British Antarctic Survey, Netherlands Polar Programme | 2013 | 10 | 10 | | −5.0 |
| Dobrowolski | Bunger Hills, Wilkes Land | Poland | Polish Academy of Sciences | 1956 | 10 | 10 | | −9.1 |
| Elichiribehety | Hope Bay | Uruguay | Uruguayan Antarctic Institute | 1945 | 8 | 7 | | −4.8 |
| Gabriel de Castilla | Deception Island | Spain | Spanish National Research Council | 1989 | 36 | 33 | | −0.7 |
| Gondwana | Transantarctic Mountains | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 1983 | | | | |
| González Videla | Waterboat Point, Graham Land | Chile | Chilean Air Force | 1951 | 15 | 15 | | −6.7 |
| Guillermo Mann | Cape Shirreff | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 1991 | 8 | 8 | | 0.4 |
| Jinnah | Sør Rondane Mountains, Queen Maud Land | Pakistan | Pakistan Antarctic Programme | 1991 | | | | |
| Juan Carlos I | South Bay, Livingston Island | Spain | Spanish National Research Council | 1988 | 50 | 27 | −3 | −1.2 |
| Julio Ripamonti | Ardley Island | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 1982 | | 4 | -3 | |
| Kohnen | Queen Maud Land | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 2001 | 28 | 6 | | −42.2 |
| Kunlun | Dome A | China | Polar Research Institute of China | 2009 | 26 | 26 | | −51.4 |
| Law-Racoviță-Negoiță | Larsemann Hills, Princess Elizabeth Land | Romania | Romanian Polar Research Institute | 1986 | | 13 | | |
| Lenie | Admiralty Bay | United States | United States Antarctic Program | 1985 | | 2 | | |
| Machu Picchu | Admiralty Bay, King George Island | Peru | Instituto Antártico Peruano | 1989 | 30 | 30 | | −2.1 |
| Maldonado | Greenwich Island | Ecuador | Instituto Antártico Ecuatoriano | 1990 | 34 | 32 | | |
| Matienzo | Graham Land | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1961 | 12 | 12 | −3 | −5.0 |
| Melchior | Melchior Islands | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1947 | 15 | 12 | −3 | −2.9 |
| Mendel | James Ross Island | Czech Republic | Masaryk University | 2007 | 20 | 20 | | −6.8 |
| Molodyozhnaya | Thala Hills, East Antarctica | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1962 | 15 | 15 | | −11.0 |
| Petrel | Dundee Island | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1967 | 45 | 25 | −3 | −7.1 |
| Port Lockroy | Goudier Island | United Kingdom | United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust | 1944 | | 4 | | |
| Primavera | Graham Land | Argentina | Instituto Antartico Argentino | 1977 | 18 | 18 | −3 | −3.0 |
| Princess Elisabeth | Queen Maud Land | Belgium | International Polar Foundation | 2007 | 40 | 22 | | −18.0 |
| Risopatrón | Robert Island | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 1949 | | 6 | | −2.3 |
| Shirreff | Cape Shirreff | United States | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 1996 | | 6 | | |
| Signy | Signy Island, South Orkney Islands | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1947 | 8 | 14 | | −2.1 |
| Sobral | Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf | Argentina | Instituto Antártico Argentino | 1965 | 7 | 6 | −3 | |
| St. Kliment Ohridski | Emona Anchorage, Livingston Island | Bulgaria | Bulgarian Antarctic Institute | 1988 | 22 | 22 | −3 | −1.0 |
| Svea | Queen Maud Land | Sweden | Swedish Polar Research Secretariat | 1988 | | 5 | | |
| Taishan | Princess Elizabeth Land | China | Polar Research Institute of China | 2014 | 20 | 20 | | −30.3 |
| TARS | Horseshoe Island | Turkey | Turkish Polar Research Program | 2019 | 50 | 26 | | |
| Tor | Queen Maud Land | Norway | Norwegian Polar Institute | 1993 | | 7 | | |
| Union Glacier | Union Glacier | Chile | Chilean Army, Chilean Navy, Chilean Air Force, Instituto Antártico Chileno | 2014 | | 70 | −3 | |
| Vechernyaya | Mount Vechernyaya, Thala Hills | Belarus | National Academy of Sciences of Belarus | 2007 | 12 | 11 | | |
| Wasa | Queen Maud Land | Sweden | Swedish Polar Research Secretariat | 1989 | 20 | 13 | | −15.3 |
| Yelcho | South Bay, Doumer Island | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 1962 | 28 | 28 | | 2.0 |
| Zucchelli | Terra Nova Bay | Italy | National Antarctic Research Program, ENEA, CNR | 1986 | 120 | 120 | +12 | −14.0 |

## Inactive stations

| Name | Location | Country | Admin. | Year est. | Type | UTC offset | Mean annual temp. (°C) | Year closed | Status |
| Aguirre Cerda | Deception Island | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 1955 | Summer | | | 1967 | Destroyed |
| Arturo Parodi | Ellsworth Land | Chile | Instituto Antártico Chileno | 1999 | Summer | | | 2014 | Dismantled |
| Asuka | Queen Maud Land | Japan | National Institute of Polar Research | 1985 | Summer | | | 1992 | Closed, under snow |
| Belgrano I | Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf | Argentina | Instituto Antártico Argentino | 1955 | Permanent | −3 | | 1980 | Abandoned, lost |
| Belgrano III | Berkner Island | Argentina | Instituto Antártico Argentino | 1980 | Permanent | −3 | | 1984 | Abandoned |
| Borga | Borg Massif | South Africa | South African National Antarctic Programme | 1969 | Summer | | | 1976 | Closed |
| Brockton | Ross Ice Shelf | United States | United States Navy | 1965 | Summer | | | 1972 | Abandoned |
| Byrd | Marie Byrd Land | United States | United States Antarctic Program | 1957 | Summer | | −28.1 | 2005 | Abandoned |
| Charcot | Adélie Land | France | French Polar Institute | 1957 | Permanent | | | 1959 | Closed, abandoned |
| Dakshin Gangotri | Dakshin Gangotri Glacier | India | National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research | 1984 | Permanent | | | 1990 | Closed, support base |
| Dome Fuji | Queen Maud Land | Japan | National Institute of Polar Research | 1995 | Summer | | −54.3 | 2019 | Closed |
| Drescher | Queen Maud Land | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 1986 | Summer | | | 2016 | Closed |
| Druzhba [ru] | Zavadovskiy Island | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1960 | Winter | | | 1960 | Closed |
| Druzhnaya I [ru] | Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1975 | Summer | | | 1986 | Closed, lost |
| Druzhnaya II [ru] | Lassiter Coast | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1982 | Summer | | | 1986 | Closed |
| Druzhnaya III | Queen Maud Land | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1982 | Summer | | | 1991 | Closed |
| Druzhnaya IV [ru] | Princess Elizabeth Land | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1987 | Summer | | | 2013 | Closed |
| East Base | Stonington Island | United States | United States Antarctic Service Expedition | 1941 | Permanent | | | 1948 | Closed |
| Eights | Ellsworth Land | United States | National Science Foundation | 1963 | Permanent | | | 1965 | Closed |
| Ellsworth | Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf | United States Argentina | United States Navy, Instituto Antártico Argentino | 1957 | Permanent | | −22 | 1962 | Closed, lost |
| Faraday | Galindez Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1947 | Permanent | | −3.3 | 1996 | Closed, became Vernadsky |
| Filchner | Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 1982 | Summer | | | 1999 | Abandoned, lost |
| Georg Forster [de] | Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 1976 | Permanent | | | 1993 | Dismantled |
| Georg von Neumayer [de] | Princess Martha Coast | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 1981 | Permanent | | | 1993 | Closed, sunk in ice |
| Giacomo Bove | Italia Valley | Italy | Renato Cepparo Expedition | 1976 | Summer | | | 1976 | Closed, sabotaged |
| Hallett | Hallett Peninsula | United States New Zealand | International Geophysical Year | 1956 | Summer | | | 1973 | Dismantled |
| King Baudouin [fr] | Princess Ragnhild Coast | Belgium Netherlands | National Center for Polar Research | 1958 | Permanent | | | 1967 | Closed, abandoned |
| Komsomolskaya | Queen Mary Land | Soviet Union | Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute | 1957 | Permanent | | −52 | 1962 | Abandoned |
| Lazarev [ru] | Lazarev Ice Shelf | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1959 | Permanent | | | 1961 | Closed, abandoned |
| Leningradskaya | Oates Coast, Victoria Land | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1971 | Summer | | −14.2 | 2008 | Closed |
| Little America | Ross Ice Shelf | United States | United States Navy | 1929 | Permanent | | −22 | 1987 | Lost |
| Little Rockford | Marie Byrd Land | United States | United States Navy | 1958 | Summer | | | 1965 | Closed, abandoned |
| Maudheim [no] | Queen Maud Land | Norway Sweden United Kingdom | Norwegian–British–Swedish Antarctic Expedition | 1950 | Permanent | | | 1952 | Closed |
| Mir [ru] | Drygalski Island | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1960 | Winter | | | 1960 | Closed |
| Mizuho | Mizuho Plateau | Japan | National Institute of Polar Research | 1970 | Summer | | | 1987 | Closed |
| Neumayer II | Queen Maud Land | Germany | Alfred Wegener Institute | 1992 | Permanent | | | 2009 | Dismantled |
| Norway [no] | Fimbul Ice Shelf | Norway South Africa | Sixth Norwegian Antarctic Expedition | 1957 | Permanent | | | 1960 | Closed |
| Oazis 2 [ru] | Bunger Hills | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1987 | Summer | | | 1995 | Closed |
| Pionérskaya [ru] | Queen Mary Land | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1956 | Permanent | | −38 | 1959 | Closed |
| Plateau | Queen Maud Land | United States | United States Navy, National Science Foundation | 1965 | Permanent | | −56.7 | 1969 | Closed |
| Pobeda [ru] | Queen Mary Land | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1960 | Summer | | | 1960 | Abandoned, lost |
| Pole of Inaccessibility | Kemp Land | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1958 | Summer | | −58.2 | 1958 | Closed |
| Port Martin | Cape Margerie | France | French Antarctic Expedition | 1950 | Permanent | | | 1952 | Partly destroyed in a fire, closed |
| Russkaya | Marie Byrd Land | Russia | Russian Antarctic Expedition | 1980 | Summer | −6 | −12.4 | 1990 | Closed |
| SANAE I | Fimbul Ice Shelf | South Africa | South African National Antarctic Programme | 1960 | Permanent | | | 1963 | Closed, abandoned |
| SANAE II | Fimbul Ice Shelf | South Africa | South African National Antarctic Programme | 1971 | Permanent | | | 1979 | Closed, abandoned |
| SANAE III | Fimbul Ice Shelf | South Africa | South African National Antarctic Programme | 1979 | Permanent | | | 1997 | Closed, abandoned |
| Sarie Marais | Ahlmann Ridge | South Africa | South African National Antarctic Programme | 1982 | Summer | | | 2001 | Closed, decommissioned |
| Siple | Ellsworth Land | United States | Stanford University's STAR Lab | 1973 | Summer | | | 1988 | Closed |
| Sodruzhestvo [ru] | Amery Ice Shelf | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1971 | Summer | | | 1974 | Closed |
| Sovetskaya | Kaiser Wilhelm II Land | Soviet Union | Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute | 1958 | Permanent | | | 1959 | Closed, abandoned |
| Soyuz | Prince Charles Mountains | Soviet Union | Soviet Antarctic Expedition | 1982 | Permanent | +5 | | 2007 | Closed |
| Station B | Deception Island | United Kingdom | Falkland Islands and Dependencies Aerial Survey Expedition | 1944 | Permanent | | | 1969 | Closed, abandoned |
| Station C | Cape Geddes | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1946 | Summer | | | 1947 | Closed, abandoned |
| Station D | Hope Bay | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1945 | Permanent | | | 1964 | Closed, became ECARE |
| Station E | Stonington Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1946 | Permanent | | | 1975 | Closed |
| Station G | Admiralty Bay | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1947 | Permanent | | | 1961 | Closed, demolished |
| Station J | Prospect Point | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1957 | Permanent | | | 1959 | Closed, removed |
| Station N | Anvers Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1955 | Permanent | | | 1971 | Destroyed in a fire, demolished |
| Station O | Danco Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1956 | Permanent | | | 1959 | Closed, demolished |
| Station T | Adelaide Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1961 | Permanent | | | 1977 | Closed, became Carvajal |
| Station V | View Point | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1953 | Permanent | | | 1963 | Closed, became Jorge Boonen |
| Station W | Detaille Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1956 | Permanent | | | 1959 | Closed |
| Station Y | Horseshoe Island | United Kingdom | British Antarctic Survey | 1955 | Permanent | | | 1960 | Closed |
| Vanda | Victoria Land | New Zealand | Antarctica New Zealand | 1969 | Summer | | −19.7 | 1995 | Closed |
| Vostok I [ru] | East Antarctica | Soviet Union | Russian Academy of Sciences | 1957 | Permanent | | | 1957 | Closed, abandoned |
| Weddell 1 [ru] | Weddell Sea | Russia United States | Russian Antarctic Expedition, National Science Foundation | 1992 | Summer | | | 1992 | Evacuated |
| Wilkes | Clark Peninsula | United States Australia | United States Navy Australian Antarctic Division | 1957 | Permanent | +8 | | 1969 | Closed, Partially Abandoned |
| World Park | Cape Evans | International | Greenpeace | 1987 | Permanent | | | 1991 | Dismantled |

## Impact and pollution

In 2023 a research report from an Australian team found that the pollution left by international research stations was comparable to that seen in some of the busiest ports in the world.