McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica, is the largest station in Antarctica and the logistics hub for the U.S. Antarctic Program. (NSF/USAP photo by Michael Hoffman, Raytheon Polar Services)

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, geographic South Pole, Antarctica, January 2008. (NSF/USAP photo by Ethan Dicks, Raytheon Polar Services)

Visit the South Pole webcam.

Palmer Station, Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula Region, Antarctica. (NSF/USAP photo by Jeffrey Kietzmann, Raytheon Polar Services)

Ski-equipped Hercules airplanes (LC-130) transport fuel, equipment, supplies, and personnel from McMurdo Station to inland sites, including Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, and from New Zealand. During the austral summer, wheeled military transports (C-17s and C-130s) also bring equipment, personnel, and supplies to Antarctica from New Zealand.

Ski-equipped Twin Otters also provide support to field teams during the austral summer.

Helicopters provide support to field parties in the McMurdo Dry Valleys in southern Victoria Land and at remote field camps. Here a helicopter lands near the Beardmore Camp in the Transantarctic Mountains. (NSF/USAP photo by Kristan Hutchison, Raytheon Polar Services)

The U.S. Antarctic Program operates two icebreaking research ships, Laurence M. Gould and Nathaniel B. Palmer between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, in the Antarctic Peninsula region, and in the Ross Sea near McMurdo Station. Icebreakers annually open a channel to McMurdo Station to enable a supply ship and a tanker to reach the station.

Small and large field camps support science parties in remote areas of Antarctica. The photograph shows a large camp—Beardmore Camp—which supported eight geology and paleontology projects during the 2003-2004 austral summer season. (NSF/USAP photo by Kristan Hutchison, Raytheon Polar Services)