History and Links

A BRIEF HISTORY

Part of the United Kingom contribution to the International Geophysical Years of 1957/58 was to form a new base in Antarctica in a region where no other base had been formed. It was to b

e within the British Antarctic Territory.

The Base was created at a a location approxiametely 75⁰ South and 800 miles from the Pole, that was given the name of Halley Bay (named after the 300 year anniversary of the year of the birth of the "Stargazer" Edmund Halley 1656-1742, who's name was also given to the comet that he calculated the orbit of - Halley's Comet) ).

The base is actually on the floating ice shelf - being somewhat about 40 miles away from the actual land mass of the Antarctic continent. This land mass is covered with snow and ice and no "land" can be seen at all from the base - the nearest being rock outcrops over 300 miles distance.

LINKS TO TO OTHER INFORMATION AND PERSONS

Some of the history of Halley Bay came from a book by Joseph MacDowell. In you have an interest in the base at Halley then details of the original IGY settling of the base at Halley and very detailed account of the first two years on the base, can be found in this very good book, by one of the original people to start the base. "On Floating Ice" - Joseph MacDowell

(details of publication can be found on a link from the Home page of www.zfids.org.uk)

Information specific to Halley Bay can be found on website run by Andy Smith (ex-Halley Bay) www.zfids.org.uk - which provides collection of information from all persons/anecdotes and other links relative to Halley Bay over the years since 1956

Mike Skidmore became an artist - painting and selling his paintings of the Antarctic - mainly of his experience in the South. Mikes' paintings can be seen and purchased from his website www.antarctic-paintings.com

Peter Noble - a G.A during the 1967-68 years - has written a book on his experiences with the Husky Dogs and added some information regarding earlier and later years on the Husky Dogs. "Dog Days on Ice" - Peter Noble

(details of publication can be found on www.peternobletalks.co.uk)

Information regarding British Antarctic Survey (commonly known as BAS) and all of its bases and present can be found on British Antarctic Survey website www.antarctic.ac.uk The website also includes link to the BAS Club www.antarctica.ac.uk/basclub for anybody who has worked with BAS

Personal experience, between 1966 and 1969, of work and life on Halley Bay, a British Antarctic Survey Base, approx 75degrees South and 800 miles from the South Pole, in Antarctica.