ere passengers on 16 commercial
(nongovernmental) ships and several yachts that made 116 trips during
the summer. Most tourist trips lasted approximately two weeks.

@Antarctica:Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 0 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 (American Forces Antarctic
Network-McMurdo) (1999)

Televisions: several hundred at McMurdo Sound

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA

@Antarctica:Transportation

Ports and harbors: 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

Airports: 18
note: 27 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the
Antarctic Treaty, have landing facilities for either helicopters
and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises operate two
additional air 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;
airports generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations
resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do
not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective
governmental or nongovernmental operating organization required for
landing (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)

@Antarctica:Military

Military - note: the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a
military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and
fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing
of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or
equipment for scientific research