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{{Short description|Indian Antarctic research station}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name =Dakshin Gangotri Station
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[Research stations in Antarctica|Antarctic Research Station]]
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| flag_size = 110px
| flag_border = no
| pushpin_map = Antarctica
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Dakshin Gangotri Station in Antarctica
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Dakshin Gangotri Station in [[Antarctica]]
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|70|45|S|11|35|E|type:landmark_region:AQ|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Antarctica|Location in Antarctica]]
| subdivision_name1 =
| subdivision_type3 = Administered by
| subdivision_name3 = [[Indian Antarctic Program]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = {{start date|1984|1|26|df=y}}
| extinct_title = Decommissioned
| extinct_date = {{start date|1990|2|25|df=y}}
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| demographics1_title1 =
| website = [http://www.ncaor.gov.in/ National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR)]
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:M.G.Zaman at Dakshin Gangotri..jpg|thumb|310x310px|Mohammed Ghous uzzaman, a member of 7th Indian Antarctic Expedition Team at Dakshin Gangotri. (26 January 1988)]]
[[File:M.G.Zaman (4) at Dakhsin Gangotri..jpg|thumb|310x310px|Mohammed Ghous uzzaman, a member of 7th Indian Antarctic Expedition Team at Dakshin Gangotri. (26 January 1988)]]
'''Dakshin Gangotri''' was the first scientific base station of [[India]] situated in [[Antarctica]], part of the [[Indian Antarctic Program]]me. It is located at a distance of {{convert|2500|km|mi}} from the [[South Pole]].<ref name="8485report">{{Cite web|title=Annual Report 1984-1985 |url=http://dod.nic.in/ann84-85.pdf |work=[[Ministry of Earth Sciences]] |publisher=[[Department of Ocean Development]] |orig-year=1985 |access-date=Apr 14, 2014 |year=1985 |type=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425173818/http://www.dod.nic.in/ann84-85.pdf |archive-date=2013-04-25 }}</ref> It is currently being used as a supply base and transit camp.<ref>http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=6881</ref> The base is named after [[Dakshin Gangotri Glacier]].

It was established during the third [[Indian Antarctic Program#Indian Antarctic expeditions|Indian expedition to Antarctica]] in 1983–84. This was the first time an Indian team spent a winter in [[Antarctica]] to carry out scientific works. The station was built in eight weeks by an 81-member team that included geologist [[Sudipta Sengupta]].<ref name="celebration">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/programme-to-celebrate-indias-antartic-mission/article5416805.ece|title=Programme to celebrate India's Antartic [sic] mission|date=3 December 2013|location=Panaji|agency=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=Apr 13, 2014}}</ref><ref name="labonice">{{cite news|title=Lab on ice |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/lab-on-ice/article5648267.ece |first=Madhumitha|last=Srinivasan|date=3 February 2014|agency=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai|access-date=Apr 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/india-s-antarctica-station-at-par-with-world-geologist-sudipta-sengupta-interview-113122200192_1.html "India's Antarctica station at par with world: Geologist Sudipta Sengupta (Interview)"]</ref> Construction was completed late into January 1984 with help from the Indian army and [[Republic Day (India)|Indian Republic Day]] was celebrated at the station along with the Soviets and East Germans.<ref name="8485report" />

== Description ==

It was an unmanned station, set up using indigenous Indian equipment, powered by [[Solar energy]]. The station was entirely computerised to record all data that was researched.<ref name="8384report">{{Cite web|title=Annual Report 1983-1984 |url=http://dod.nic.in/ann83-84.pdf |work=[[Ministry of Earth Sciences]] |publisher=[[Department of Ocean Development]] |orig-year=1984 |access-date=Apr 14, 2014 |year=1984 |type=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425173912/http://www.dod.nic.in/ann83-84.pdf |archive-date=2013-04-25 }}</ref> It was built using pre-fabricated timber, and was intended as a permanent station. It had an [[Inmarsat]] communication terminal, as well as an amateur radio station.<ref name="8485report" />

The station was divided into two sections, Blocks A and B. Block A contained generators, fuel supply and workshops while Block B was home to laboratories, radio rooms and other facilities.<ref name="breakingice">{{cite book|last=Sharma|first=Satya|title=Breaking The Ice in Antarctica|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=emCd_27imFoC&pg=PP1|access-date=Apr 13, 2014|year=2001|publisher=New Age International|pages=103–105|chapter=Dakshin Gangotri|isbn=9788122412901}}</ref>

An automatic weather recording station, powered by solar energy was set up at the Dakshin Gangotri. Apart from this, the station was used to conduct tests on radio waves in Antarctica.<ref name="8384report" /> Other functions of the Dakshin Gangotri included observations of [[physical oceanography]], the chemistry of the freshwater lakes around, biological traits of the land, biological traits of the water, [[geology]], [[glaciology]] and [[Earth's magnetic field|geomagnetism]] of the area.<ref name="8384report" />

In 1984, site for a new runway was identified at a distance of 2 km from the station. Along with this, 2000 [[philatelic cover]]s were marked with ''Dakshin Gangotri''. Later, in the same year, a small field station was set up in the hills, to allow direct communication over a high frequency satellite link between Indian mainland and the station.<ref name="8485report" />

In 1985, instruments such as the Automatic Picture Transmission Receiver, and the Radio Metre Sonde were set up to calculate wind velocities and solar intensities to determine the feasibility of generation of [[wind energy]] and solar energy. 2000 [[philatelic cover]]s were cancelled, while videos were taken on the station. An electrified garage to store snow vehicles and skidoos was constructed as well as a repair workshop for them was constructed along with three cottages made with pre-fabricated material, built by the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]].The [[Indian Navy]] helped set up the communications system for wireless transmission to India.<ref name="8586report">{{Cite web|title=Annual Report 1985-1986 |url=http://dod.nic.in/ann85-86.pdf |work=[[Ministry of Earth Sciences]] |publisher=[[Department of Ocean Development]] |orig-year=1986 |access-date=Apr 14, 2014 |year=1986 |type=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425173704/http://www.dod.nic.in/ann85-86.pdf |archive-date=2013-04-25 }}</ref>

In 1984, The first Indian post office in Antarctica was established at Dakshin Gangotri and Meteorologist G. Sudhakar Rao was named as the first Indian postmaster in Antarctica in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/India-Had-A-Post-Office-At-The-Antarctic-Circle|title=Did You Know India Once Had A Post Office At The Antarctic Circle? It Was A Gorgeous Sight To Behold|last=ScoopWhoop|date=2016-03-04|work=ScoopWhoop|access-date=2018-08-31|language=En}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mintageworld.com/media/detail/1665-indian-post-office-away-from-india/|title=Indian Post Office Away From India|work=Mintage World|access-date=2018-08-31|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/117789/hikkim-spiti-srinagar-antarctica-unusual-post-office-india/|title=From a Spiti Hamlet to Antarctica: Here's Are India's Most Unusual Post Offices|date=2017-10-10|work=The Better India|access-date=2018-08-31|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Conversion to supply base and replacement ==

It was abandoned in 1988–1989 after it was submerged in ice. It was succeeded by the [[Maitri (research station)|Maitri]] research station, which was set up in a moderate climatic zone at a distance of 90 km and made operational in 1990.<ref name="buildingnewbase">{{cite news |title=India to start building new Antarctia base in January |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907260913.htm |date=26 July 2009 |agency=[[The Hindu]] |location=New Delhi |access-date=Apr 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122053837/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907260913.htm |archive-date=2013-11-22 }}</ref> Dakshin Gangotri was finally decommissioned on 25 February 1990<ref name=transitiontoguardianship>{{cite book|last=Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani|title=Transition to Guardianship: The Indian Navy 1991–2000|publisher=Lancer Publications LLC|isbn=9781935501664|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w2snz5Cfb0gC&q=dakshin+gangotri&pg=RA2-PT87}}</ref> and subsequently turned into a supply base.<ref name="weathermaitri">{{Cite web |title=Weather Maitri |url=http://www.imd.gov.in/maitri/imdprog.html |work=[[Indian Meteorological Department]] |access-date=Apr 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009082617/http://www.imd.gov.in/maitri/imdprog.html |archive-date=2013-10-09 }}</ref><ref name="geomagexplore">{{Cite web |title=Indian Antarctica Scientific Expedition |url=http://iigm.res.in/index.php/research/antarctica/program |publisher=Indian Institute of Geomagnetism |access-date=Apr 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120020839/http://iigm.res.in/index.php/research/antarctica/program |archive-date=November 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1991, the eleventh Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica conducted geomagnetic observations simultaneously at Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri.<ref name="eleventhexpedition">{{Cite web|title=ANTARCTIC RESEARCH PROGRAMME- Eleventh Expedition |url=http://dod.nic.in/ayr92-93/ar_anexp.htm |publisher=[[Ministry of Earth Sciences]] |orig-year=1992 |access-date=Apr 13, 2014 |year=1993 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512110508/http://www.dod.nic.in/ayr92-93/ar_anexp.htm |archive-date=2013-05-12 }}</ref>

In 2008, India set up its first permanent research base on the [[Arctic Ocean]], [[Himadri (research station)|Himadri]].<ref name="arcticbase">{{cite news|title=India sets up permanent research base at North Pole |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-07-02/news/27732844_1_research-station-research-base-indian-scientists |date=2 July 2008 |agency=The Economic Times |location=New Delhi |access-date=Apr 14, 2014}}</ref>

In 2012, a third research station, the [[Bharati (research station)|Bharati]] was made operational, although only for testing.<ref name="buildingnewbase" />

In 2014, the second Arctic research station, a moored obersvatory named [[IndARC]] was commissioned.<ref name="buildingnewbase" />

==See also==
* [[Indian Antarctic Program]]
* [[Bharati (research station)]]
* [[Maitri (research station)|Maitri]] Second Indian station 1989
* [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]]
* [[Defence Institute of High Altitude Research]]
* [[Indian Astronomical Observatory]]
* [[Jantar Mantar, Jaipur]]
* [[National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research]]
* [[Siachen Base Camp (India)]]
* [[Research stations in Antarctica#List of research stations|List of Antarctic research stations]]
* [[Antarctic field camps|List of Antarctic field camps]]
* [[List of highest astronomical observatories]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ncaor.gov.in/antarcticas Antarctica], NATIONAL CENTRE FOR ANTARCTIC AND OCEAN RESEARCH (NCAOR)
* [http://www.aame.in/2010/08/dakshin-gangotri-station-pride-of-india.html Dakshin Gangotri Station: Pride of India]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011192443/http://cep.ats.aq/cep/MediaItems/ml_381314219328704_27ip040E.doc REVIEW OF THE HISTORIC SITE AND MONUMENT HSM-44 (A PLAQUE ERECTED AT “DAKSHIN GANGOTRI” STATION]

{{Polar Research Stations of India}}
{{Antarctica topics}}
{{Antarctic research stations}}
{{Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Outposts of Antarctica]]
[[Category:Outposts of Queen Maud Land]]
[[Category:Indian Arctic Program]]
[[Category:Antarctic research]]
[[Category:Research stations]]
[[Category:Research in India]]
[[Category:Princess Astrid Coast]]
[[Category:Historic Sites and Monuments of Antarctica]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in Antarctica]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in Antarctica]]

Dakshin Gangotri - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 21:18, 13 August 2023