Remnants of the Wilkins Ice Shelf

Nov. 10, 2010 – Operation Ice Bridge, South Pole Flight #2
Remnants of the Wilkins ice shelf from the window of the NASA DC-8. Credit: NASA/Goddard/Sarah DeWitt

Situated on the continent of Antarctica, it is the site of the United States Amundsen. Although the south pole  was established in 1956 and has been permanently staffed since that year. Therefore Geographic South Pole is distinct from the South Magnetic Pole. Also the position of which is defined based on the Earth’s magnetic field. The South Pole is at the center of the Southern Hemisphere. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole.