Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Base
Encyclopedia
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian research station
Research station
A research station is a station built for the purpose of conducting scientific research. Research station sites might include outer space and oceans. Many nations have research stations in Antarctica; Showa Station, Halley and Troll are examples...
located in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica. It extends from a line between Cape Adams and a point on the mainland south of Eklund Islands....
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It is named after Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
Commander Luís Antônio de Carvalho Ferraz, a hydrographer
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
and oceanographer who visited Antarctica twice on board British vessels. He was instrumental in persuading his country's government to develop an Antarctic program, and died suddenly in 1982 while representing Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
at an oceanographic conference in Halifax.
The Comandante Ferraz Base is built on the same site of the old British "Base G", and the weathered wooden structures of the old base make a sharp contrast with the bright green and orange metal structures of the Brazilian base, which was first set up in 1984. Above the base is a small cemetery with five crosses. Three are the graves of British Antarctic Survey
British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
(BAS) personnel; the fourth commemorates a BAS base leader lost at sea. The fifth cross is the grave of a Brazilian radio operator sergeant who died of a heart attack at Ferraz in 1990.