Maitri Research Station
Maitri, also known as Friendship Research Centre, is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica. Established in 1984, it is located in the Schirmacher Oasis, near the Russian Novolazarevskaya Station. Maitri is India's primary research hub for various scientific disciplines, including biology, earth sciences, glaciology, meteorology, and human physiology. It can accommodate 25 personnel during the winter season and has modern facilities for research, communication, and medical support.
Freshwater for the station is sourced from Lake Priyadarshini, located nearby. Maitri is served by a blue ice runway 10 kilometers away, managed by Antarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI), which also serves Novolazarevskaya. India plans to replace the existing Maitri station with a newer and more advanced Maitri-2 station by 2029, further enhancing its research capabilities in Antarctica.
Interesting Facts
- Maitri was named by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, symbolizing the friendly relations between India and Russia in Antarctica.
- The first huts at Maitri were completed in 1989, shortly before the first Indian station, Dakshin Gangotri, was abandoned due to burial in ice.
- Maitri is only 5 kilometers away from Novolazarevskaya, allowing for scientific collaboration and exchange between Indian and Russian researchers.
- The Indian Antarctic Program (IAP) has established several other research stations in Antarctica, including Bharati and Himadri, demonstrating India's commitment to scientific research and exploration in the polar regions.
- The Maitri station has played a crucial role in India's participation in the Antarctic Treaty System, which promotes peaceful and cooperative scientific research on the continent.