The Base “Y” at Horseshoe Island (WAP GBR-14) was established by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey in 1955. Its position, Latitude 67° 48′ South, Longitude 67° 17′ West, located on Sally Cove, Horseshoe Island, Bourgeois Fjord, Marguerite Bay This was part of the push to increase UK scientific activity ahead of International Geophysical Year, 1957-58, with a number of bases opened during this period.
Horseshoe Island Base “Y” did open on 11 March 1955 and closed 21 August 1960 when personnel were transferred to Stonington Island Station “E” (WAP GBR-Ø5). Reopened briefly from 7 March 1969 through 11 July 1969 to complete local survey work.
VP8DLM operated by Mehdi F5PFP was active from this rare site on March 2011, giving many of the Antarctic hunters a real “New One”!
Now Horseshoe Island Base “Y” stands almost fully equipped from the time it was in service and is the destination of polar cruises as it’s often included in the programs of polar tourism as it has been open as a museum for tourists and scientists.
Base Y is visited by over 2,500 visitors every year despite its remote location away from the main travel routes. The site was used occasionally by BAS personnel on field trips from Rothera (Station “R”, WAP GBR-12). It was cleaned up by BAS in 1995 and designated Historic Site and Monument no. 63. Managed by UKAHT since 2014.
Thanks and credit to: UKAHT – Horseshoe
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