WINTER ISLAND, Antarctica — Vintage yellow cans of vacuum-packed coffee, left in place as part of the preserved interior of Wordie House, a historic British research station on Winter Island in the Argentine Islands, Antarctica. These artifacts offer a glimpse into the daily life and supplies of mid-20th century Antarctic researchers.
Photograph by David Coleman. The yellow cans of vacuum-packed coffee preserved at Wordie House provide a tangible link to the daily lives of Antarctic researchers in the mid-20th century. Wordie House, established in 1947 as part of Operation Tabarin and later managed by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (now British Antarctic Survey), was occupied until 1954. The presence of these coffee cans highlights the importance of preserving caffeine sources in the extreme Antarctic environment, where fresh supplies were infrequent and challenging to obtain. The preservation of such mundane yet crucial items offers valuable insights into the logistics of early Antarctic expeditions and the measures taken to maintain morale in isolated conditions. As part of the protected historic site, these artifacts are maintained in situ, creating an authentic time capsule of polar exploration. The vacuum-packed coffee cans represent not only the food preservation technology of the era but also the supply chains that supported remote scientific outposts. Their presence in Wordie House contributes to the site's significance as an educational resource, allowing visitors to connect with the personal experiences of early Antarctic researchers and the challenges they faced in conducting scientific work in one of the world's most extreme environments.
Size: 6706px × 4476px
Location: Wordie House, Winter Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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