A team of 12 Chinese polar explorers made it to the top of the
north peak of Dome A on Sunday, the first team ever to make it to
the remote ice mountain by land.
Zhang Zhanhai, leader of the Kunlun Dome A Inland Icecap
Expedition, said that he had received a telephone report from Li
Yuansheng, the leader of the mission, that the team successfully
mounted the north peak at 11:30 PM Beijing time on Sunday.
Preliminary measurement by global positioning system shows that
the north peak of Dome A is 4,091 meters above sea level.
According to telemetering data, the South Pole's inland icecap
has two peaks, more than 10 kilometers away from each other. Only
by measurement from both the satellite and the ground can the
explorers determine which one is higher.
After a more exact survey of the north peak, the mission team
will set out for the south peak.
Gai Junxian, the mission team's technician, left the team on
Saturday because of a strong altitude reaction. He is now receiving
treatment at a US research station and is in a stable
condition.
The remaining members are all in good condition, said Wei
Wenliang, vice director of the Chinese Arctic and
Antarctic Administration.
The team plans to stay in the peak area for 10 to 15 days to
conduct a variety of experiments, collect ice samples and build a
temporary weather observatory to prepare for the construction of a
permanent research station in inland Antarctica.
This is the first time that systematic scientific research has
been done by any country at Dome A. Located about 1,300 kilometers
inland, with a brutal climate and a height of more than 4,000
meters, Dome A is known as one of the world's most inaccessible
places.
Meanwhile, the polar expedition ship Xuelong (Snow
Dragon) arrived in the southern Argentina port of Ushuaia on
Friday. She will remain for three days replenishing supplies before
returning to Zhongshan Station, the permanent research station
China built in Antarctica in 1989.
The ship left on China's 21st Antarctic expedition on October 25
last year for the 150-day expedition. Most of the team's tasks have
now been completed, and it is expected to return to China in
March.
With the conclusion of the expedition, the Xuelong will
be docked for a complete makeover beginning in May or June. Her
refitting is scheduled to be completed by August 2006.
When she emerges, the Xuelong's research, safety
and living conditions will all be substantially improved, with her
laboratory area expanded to 300 square meters.
(China Daily, China.org.cn January 11, 2005)