several
yachts that made 143 trips during the summer. Most tourist trips
lasted approximately two weeks.

Antarctica Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 0

note: information for US bases only (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system: general assessment: NA

domestic: NA

international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1

note: information for US bases only (1998)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 (the US Navy Antarctic Support
Group operates a cable system with six channels for the American
Forces Antarctic Network-McMurdo)

note: information for US bases only (2000)

Televisions: several hundred at McMurdo Sound

note: information for US bases only (2001)

Internet country code: .aq

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA

Antarctica Transportation

Ports and harbors: there are no developed ports and harbors in
Antarctica; most coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and
supplies are transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges,
and helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility US
coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43
S, 64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office
under "Legal System"); offshore anchorage is sparse and intermittent

Airports: 19

note: 27 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the
Antarctic Treaty, have aircraft landing facilities for either
helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises
operate two additional aircraft landing facilities; helicopter pads
are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel,
sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled,
fixed-wing aircraft; of these, 1 is greater than 3 km in length, 6
are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 3 are between 1 km and 2 km in
length, 3 are less than 1 km in length, and 2 are of unknown length;
snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing
aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, 4 are
greater than 3 km in length, 3 are between 2 km and 3 km in length,
2 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 2 are less than 1 km in
length, and 4 are of unknown length; aircraft landing facilities
generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting
from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; aircraft landing
facilities do not meet ICAO standards; advance approv