Vostok Station is a Russian research station located in Antarctica, specifically in the heart of the Antarctic Desert. It is known for being one of the coldest places on Earth, with the lowest recorded temperature being -89.2°C (-128.6°F) on July 21, 1983.
The station was established on December 16, 1957, as part of the International Geophysical Year (IGY). It was built by the Soviet Union and continues to be operated by Russia through its Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI).
Vostok Station lies at an elevation of 3,488 meters (11,444 feet) above sea level, at the coordinates 78°28'00" S, 106°48'00" E. It is situated above the subglacial Lake Vostok, one of the largest lakes in Antarctica, which is approximately 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) under the ice.
The station is primarily used for atmospheric and geophysical research. Key areas of study include:
Life at Vostok Station is challenging due to:
Some of the notable scientific findings at Vostok Station include: