New Delhi (ABC Live): China has officially start a fourth Antarctic research base, the State Oceanic Administration said here on Saturday.
The new Taishan station is located between Zhongshan and Kunlun stations at an altitude of 2,600 meters. It can accommodate up to 20 people during the Antarctic summer, and is equipped with a runway for fixed-wing aircraft, specially designed for snow and ice.
China’s first Antarctic expedition was undertaken in 1984 and the first of the four research centers, the Great Wall, opened in 1985 on the continent followed by Zhongshan, Kunlun and, now, Taishan. The Taishan station is expected to be in service for the next 15 years.
