Did you know that Norwegian researchers lived in Antarctica from
1956 to 1960 – and that it had major political consequences? In
1939, Norway annexed part of the Antarctic continent, Dronning
Maud Land. In 1956, to ensure that this claim would be honoured,
it was time to show Norwegian presence on the continent. The
Norwegian Antarctic expedition 1956–1960 was organised by Harald
Ulrik Sverdrup, Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute. Over
the three-year duration of the expedition, masses of new
research data were gathered. The expedition also had major
political implications, helping to ensure that Norway could play
a leading role in the negotiations that resulted in the
Antarctic Treaty, which was signed in December 1959. The
expedition base was placed on Märtha Kyst (Märtha Coast) in
Dronning Maud Land, 35 km inland from the ice edge, and was
named Norway Station. It was home to many as 14 team members and
42 Greenland huskies over the next few years. The expedition
leader was Sigurd Helle. The particip