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Port Lockroy is a bay that forms a natural harbor on the northwest coast of the island of Wiencke, in the Palmer archipelago of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Antarctic base of the same name, located on the Goudier Island of this bay, includes the southernmost operational post office in the world. During World War II, Operation Tabarin was launched to patrol the Antarctic region for Nazi Germany’s trade raiders and U-boats threatening Allied expeditions.
The expedition led to the creation of a number of bases, including Port Lockroy, which continued to be used as a research station until 1962.
Award-winning director and author Jon Bowermaster visited the base during the Amazon Prime documentary “Terra Antarctica”.
He said: “Port Lockroy is a tiny island that is home to a 50-year-old British refuge.
“Lockroy is just one example of the small British bases used in the 1940s and 1950s and then abandoned.
“This was completely rebuilt, of course, including collections of all the paraphernalia they used.
“Dog food, snowshoes, old skis and farmed gentoos [penguins] everywhere outside the window “.
Mr. Bowermaster then spoke to Rick Atkinson, who explained how dogs played a crucial role for researchers during that time.
He said: “The kids down here have been using dogs for essentially 50 years.
“Virtually the entire Antarctic Peninsula has been traversed by a team of dogs at one time or another.
READ MORE: Antarctica: the spooky ‘British base’ intact in 50 years’ explored after scientists escape
In 1996, the Port Lockroy base was renovated and is now a museum and post office operated by the UK’s Antarctic Heritage Trust.
The Trust collects data for the British Antarctic Survey to observe the effect of tourism on penguins.
Half of the island is open to tourists, while the other half is reserved for penguins.
A staff of four typically processes 80,000 emails sent by 18,000 visitors arriving during the five months of the Antarctic cruise season.
Visitors are also offered a passport souvenir stamp.
After the end of the Second World War, the scientific work carried out by Operation Tabarin was continued by the investigation into the addictions of the Falkland Islands.
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