Deception Station

Deception Station (Base Decepción) is an Argentine antarctic base located at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands.

History
The station was founded on January 25, 1948 by Argentina. In 1950 a seismograph was installed in the base, and in 1951 it also received ionospheric equipment. In 1993 a volcano observatory was opened.

Initially, it operated year-round, serving as a hub for scientific research and exploration. However, in December 1967, violent volcanic eruptions forced the evacuation of the base. Since then, Deception Station has been inhabited only during the summer months. The island experienced severe volcanic activity in 1967, 1969, and 1970.

Like a polar Pompeii, Deception Station’s buildings remain frozen in a bygone era. Abandoned overnight, the station’s rusted ruins and scattered debris tell tales of explorers, whalers, and scientists. It is a time capsule of Antarctica’s human history, with remnants of its days as a processing center for Antarctic wildlife

Gabriel de Castilla Base, a Spanish research station, was constructed on Deception Island in the late 1980s. Deception Island has also been home to scientific stations run by Argentina, Chile, Spain, and the United Kingdom.