BELARE: Belgian Antarctic Expeditions
This picture gallery unfolds some of the key moments of the three past BELARE expeditions in Antarctica. Expeditions took place in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
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Arriving in the Sør Rondane Mountain range to decide on the station's ideal construction site.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Surveying the site by Ski-Doo.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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They find the granite mountain ridge on which the station could be solidly attached.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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The Utsteinen ridge.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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A first topographic survey to make sure this is the right site for attaching the station.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Installing the weather station for monitoring on-site conditions.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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First camp on site.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Digging a trench to shelter provisions and equipment until next year.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Twin Otter plane that brought the BELARE 2005 team from Russian station Novolazeravskaja to the Sør Rondane area.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Overland route survey from construction site in Utsteinen to coast, so as to find a suitable unloading point for the first shipment.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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They spotted the kind of snow ramp that they were looking for.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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The air survey was followed by a Ski-Doo land survey of the overland route.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Identifying and checking the various anchoring points on the construction site.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Mapping all anchoring points with the GPS.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Last check of the automatic weather station.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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The ICE-CLASS cargo ship Ivan Papanin in Cape Town harbor before BELARE 2006.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Loading the first shipment to Antarctica.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Everything must be secured before leaving Cape Town for Antarctica.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Ivan Papanin approaching Breid Bay.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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High cliffs.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Securing the ICE-CLASS cargo ship.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Unloading the Prinoth tractors.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Setting up the Prinoth tracks.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Containers ready to be transported.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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The Hammar side loader is used to put containers on sledges.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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First convoy.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Powerful Prinoth tractors.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Utsteinen campsite becomes a lot bigger.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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There's even a dining room!
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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First windmill erected on Utsteinen ridge.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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First tests are undertaken and first kilowatts of clean energy produced.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
