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Snow block goes into melt tank for freshwater
Base H - Signy Island Antarctica

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  ©Copyright W. Townsend - picture taken 1963

Freshwater in liquid form can be a difficult thing to obtain in Antarctica. In the winter months one way of doing this without too much difficulty was by "snow-blocking" cutting deep snow banks into large but readily handled blocks which were dropped into a melt-tank which was usually heated by being next to the exhaust from the generators. It meant that fresh water for washing was in short supply so a quick weekly shower was all that the people were allowed, drinking, cooking and cooking implement hygiene coming first.

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This picture is one of a collection assembled in 2007 on the 60th anniversary of Signy Island Base: 60°43'S 045°36'W. Thank you to those who sent their treasured memories of their time in Antarctica and allowed them to be made into a commemorative cd and then placed here on the web.

My commentary is taken from notes I was sent with the pictures if any. Corrections or additions, please

The reunion weekend was 14-16 September 2007.

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Copyright 2001 Paul Ward  copyright issues  |  privacy policy  |     |  Last modified:  August 17, 2008