Source: Xinhua

12-19-2008 14:06

Special Report:   Tech Max

 

Antarctica, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese 25th Antarctic expedition team left Zhongshan Station Thursday for the highest icecap on the South Pole to set up the country's first inland Antarctic research station.

The Chinese 25th Antarctic expedition team pose for a group photograph at Zhongshan Station, Antarctica, on Dec. 18, 2008. The Chinese 25th Antarctic expedition team left Zhongshan Station Thursday for the highest icecap on the South Pole to set up the country's first inland Antarctic research station. The to-be-built Kunlun Station, also the country's third station in Antarctica after Changcheng Station and Zhongshan Station, would be located in the Dome Argus (Dome A) zone, the pole's highest icecap at 4,093 meters above sea level.(Xinhua Photo)
The Chinese 25th Antarctic expedition team pose for a group 
photograph at Zhongshan Station, Antarctica, on Dec. 18, 2008.
 The Chinese 25th Antarctic expedition team left Zhongshan 
Station Thursday for the highest icecap on the South Pole 
to set up the country's first inland Antarctic research 
station. The to-be-built Kunlun Station, also the  Zhongshan
Station,would be located in the Dome Argus (Dome A) zone, 
the pole's highest icecap at 4,093 meters above sea level.
(Xinhua Photo)

The to-be-built Kunlun Station, also the country's third station in Antarctica after Changcheng Station and Zhongshan Station, would be located in the Dome Argus (Dome A) zone, the pole's highest icecap at 4,093 meters above sea level.

The 1,300-kilometer journey was scheduled to take 20 days, witha team of 28 members, 11 vehicles, 43 sleds and 625 tonnes of supplies.

"As the region's highest peak, Dome A is a true natural laboratory for scientific study and has a high value of scientificre search," said Yang Huigen, chief scientist with the expedition team.

Yang Huigen, chief scientist with Chinese 25th Antarctic expedition team, orders the team to start moving in Antarctica, on Dec. 18, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Yang Huigen, chief scientist with Chinese 25th Antarctic 
expedition team, orders the team to start moving in Antarctica,
on Dec. 18, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

"Dome A is a unique station for meteorological and climate observation, and the oldest ice core is most likely to be found here," Yang said.

Dome A was also called as the "inaccessible pole for human beings" with its thin air and a mean annual temperature of minus 60 degrees Celsius.

Li Yuansheng, the team leader, said all the 28 members had passed a series of strict assessment on physics, psychology and high plateau acclimatization, and "they will overcome chilliness and hypoxia to finish building the new station."