The Beer Can
a day ago
- #South Pole
- #Infrastructure
- #Antarctica
- The Beer Can is a vertical tower connecting the elevated living zone with the underground infrastructure zone at the South Pole Station.
- The elevated station, built in 2008, houses living amenities like berthing, food service, gym, and lounges, allowing residents to stay indoors for extended periods.
- The underground 'Arches' contain industrial facilities such as power generation, water filtration, and warehousing, essential for station operations.
- The Beer Can is a 50-foot corrugated metal cylinder with 90 stairs and a freight elevator, linking the two zones.
- The Beer Can and Arches are unheated, requiring freezer doors to separate them from the heated elevated station.
- The station's altitude (nearly two miles above sea level) makes climbing the Beer Can stairs a challenging workout, often turned into a fun competition.
- The Beer Can serves as both a physical and conceptual separator between living and infrastructure zones, highlighting its importance.