Christmas in Antarctica

The delivery of mail to Earth's southernmost continent is quite a fascinating one.

For many, Christmas is the busiest time of the year, and while the last recommended posting dates are between 20th-22nd December for sending cards and presents in the UK, the same can't be said for remote destinations such as Antarctica.

The opening of cards and presents is a special, joyous occasion, even more so if you are unable to spend them with loved ones and your nearest and dearest.

In the run-up to Christmas, Royal Mail delivers festive cheer to some of the remotest recipients, including around 200 polar researchers and support staff from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) currently working in the Antarctic, who spend Christmas on the other side of the world from their family and friends in the UK.

The British Antarctic Survey has five research stations and two ice-strengthened red and white ships. And rather surprisingly, to enable cards and gifts to reach the Antarctic in time for Christmas this year, items actually need to be on their way by 28 October – almost two months ahead of the big day.

'In an age of telecommunications where, even in the Antarctic, emails and phone calls are very much part of daily life, there's very little that creates as much excitement as the arrival of mail,' says James Miller, HR manager at the British Antarctic Survey. 'In today's digital age, the personal touch of a handwritten letter or card still counts for so much more, especially during the festive season. Spirits are always raised when the post bag arrives at our research stations.'

Unbeknown to many, the postal journey to Antarctica is quite a fascinating one.

To cover the 9,000 mile journey from Cambridge to the BAS's Halley research station, mail initially travels by plane to the Falkland Islands. 'It is loaded onto one of two BAS ships or occasionally a Royal Navy ice patrol vessel,' the Royal mail explains. 'This vessel takes up to two weeks to complete this stage of the journey to arrive in time for Christmas.'

A regular postal service has served the British Antarctic Territory since the 1950s. In total, around 200 people from the UK are based on the frozen continent during the peak summer months. They are largely based at two main Antarctic research stations, Halley and Rothera, carrying out research into glaciology, climate change, geology, marine biology and oceanography. They are supported by field workers, engineers, mechanics and other professions who keep the stations running.

Source: http://www.housebeautiful.co.uk/lifestyle/a2689/antarctica-christmas-post/