Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme

The Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, also known as just O'Higgins Station, is a permanent Chilean research station in Antarctica. Located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on Cape Legoupil, it is one of the longest-running continuously operated bases on the continent.

 History 
The base was established on February 18, 1948, by the Chilean Antarctic Expedition. It was named in honor of Bernardo O'Higgins, a key figure in Chile's struggle for independence from Spanish rule and the country's first Supreme Director. The base is administered by the Chilean Army, which provides logistical and infrastructural support for the scientific activities. It is also known as Puerto Covadonga after the port on which it is located.

 Scientific Research 
While operated by the Chilean military, O'Higgins Station is a center for a range of scientific research. It supports studies in fields such as:
Glaciology: Studying the glaciers and ice formations of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Geology: Investigating the unique geological formations of the region.
Marine biology: Researching the diverse marine life in the surrounding waters.
Meteorology and Climate change: Providing long-term data for understanding weather patterns and climate shifts.

 German Antarctic Receiving Station (GARS) 
A notable feature of the O'Higgins Station is the German Antarctic Receiving Station (GARS), a facility operated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Established in 1991, GARS O'Higgins is a satellite ground station with a large radio antenna. Its primary functions are:
Satellite Data Reception: Downloading vast amounts of data from German Earth observation satellites, such as TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X, which are used for creating detailed maps and models of the Earth's surface.
Geodetic Measurements: Participating in a global network to conduct Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) measurements, which help scientists precisely track continental drift and the Earth's rotation.

This collaboration between Chile and Germany highlights the international nature of scientific research in Antarctica.
Category:Antarctica
Category:Research stations in Antarctica