Fourth of July in Antarctica

Happy Independence Day! Midwinter festivities are under way at McMurdo Station as reported in the Antarctic Sun's Around the Continent-Research Station Updates July 2 entry. Celebrations include the annual Midwinter Dinner, dance, photo exhibi- tion, outdoor run (brrr), and the Fourth of July carnival. Sounds like a blast, minus the blast of fireworks. Here's McMurdo as it appears in the darkness of the Austral winter, which lasts from late April until August. There are 153 residents at the station now, mostly doing maintenance, repairs, and preparation for the nearly 1,100 people expected for the summer research season. The photograph was taken on May 6 by James Walker / National Science Foundation.