Base Aérea Teniente Benjamín Matienzo

{{Infobox settlement | name = Matienzo Base | official_name = Lieutenant Benjamín Matienzo Air Base | native_name = Base Aérea Teniente Benjamín Matienzo | native_name_lang = es | other_name = Base Matienzo Estación Matienzo | settlement_type = Antarctic base

| image_seal = | seal_size = | seal_alt = | seal_link =

| image_shield = | shield_size = | shield_alt = | shield_link =

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| coordinates = {{coord|64.975659|S|60.071501|W|format=dms|region:AQ|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flagcountry|Argentina}} | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands Province | subdivision_type2 = Department | subdivision_name2 = Antártida Argentina | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = Graham Land Antarctic Peninsula | subdivision_type4 = Location | subdivision_name4 = Larsen Nunatak Foca Nunataks

| established_title = Settled | established_date = | established_title1 = Established | established_date1 = | established_title2 = Founded | established_date2 = {{start date|1961|3|15}} (1960–61 austral summer season) | extinct_title = Closed | extinct_date = | named_for = Benjamín Matienzo

| elevation_m = 32 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name="comnap-catalogue"/>

| population_as_of = 2017 | population_footnotes = <ref name="comnap-catalogue">{{cite report |type=catalogue |url=https://www.comnap.aq/s/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf |title=Antarctic Station Catalogue |date=August 2017 |publisher=Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs |isbn=978-0-473-40409-3 |page=17 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022102847/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61073506e9b0073c7eaaf464/t/611497cc1ece1b43f0eeca8a/1628739608968/COMNAP_Antarctic_Station_Catalogue.pdf |archive-date=22 October 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> | population_total = | population_blank1_title = Summer | population_blank1 = 12 | population_blank2_title = Winter | population_blank2 = 0 | population_note =

| blank_name_sec1 = Type | blank_info_sec1 = Seasonal | blank1_name_sec1 = Period | blank1_info_sec1 = Summer | blank2_name_sec1 = Status | blank2_info_sec1 = Operational | blank_name_sec2 = Activities | blank_info_sec2 = {{Collapsible list |bullets=on |Meteorology |Geology |Geophysics |Oceanography |Climatology}} | blank1_name_sec2 = Facilities | blank1_info_sec2 = {{Collapsible list|bullets=on|Main house |Emergency house |Airstrip |Helipad |Fuel platform |Waste treatment plant |Laboratory |Freezing chamber |Warehouse and deposits}}

| website =  | footnotes = }} thumb|300px|Map showing Matienzo station to the bottom right, Cartographic base: Antarctic Digital Database www.add.scar.org/

'''Matienzo Base''' ({{langx|es|Base Aérea Teniente Benjamín Matienzo}}, or more often ''Base Matienzo'' or ''Estación Matienzo'') is an Argentine Antarctic base and scientific research station named after Lieutenant Benjamín Matienzo, an Argentine aviation pioneer. It is located in Larsen Nunatak, one of the Foca Nunataks, in Graham Land, Antarctic Peninsula.

{{As of|2014}} Matienzo is one of 13 research bases in Antarctica operated by Argentina.<ref name=dna2>{{cite web|url=http://www.dna.gov.ar/INGLES/DIVULGAC/BASES.HTM|title=Argentine Antarctic Stations|publisher=Dirección Nacional del Antártico|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620202830/http://www.dna.gov.ar/INGLES/DIVULGAC/BASES.HTM|archivedate=20 June 2013}}</ref> From 1961 to 1985 it served as a permanent base; since then it is open during the summer season only.

==History== Matienzo was founded as ''Lieutenant Matienzo'' Joint Base ({{langx|es|Base Conjunta Teniente Matienzo}}) on 15 March 1961 as a joint effort between the Argentine Army and the Argentine Air Force. Under the command of then Captain Ignacio Carro, several aircraft and tracked vehicles were employed to transport more than {{convert|240|MT|abbr=on}} of cargo from Esperanza.<ref name=fundmar1>{{cite web|url=http://www.marambio.aq/matienzo.html|title=Base Aérea Teniente Benjamín Matienzo|publisher=Fundaciòn Marambio|language=Spanish|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308220237/http://www.marambio.aq/matienzo.html|archivedate=8 March 2014}}</ref>

At the end of 1962 Matienzo was the launch site for the first major Air Force operation in the Antarctic. In what was called ''Operación Sur'' ("Operation South"), a Douglas C-47 (TA-33) commanded by then Captain Mario Luis Olezza took off from the base trying to reach the South Pole and then land on McMurdo Station. This first attempt failed due to a fire in the airplane's engines. The plan could only materialize in 1965.<ref name=fundmar1/>

On 15 November 1963 the base was transferred under exclusive command of the Air Force, and renamed as ''Destacamento Aeronáutico Teniente Matienzo'' ("Lieutenant Matienzo Aeronautical Detachment"), The Air Force kept a number of planes for exclusive service of the base.<ref name=fundmar1/>

During 1964 an extensive program of meteorological and climatological observations was fulfilled: it included studying the glaciological profile across the Matienzo–Esperanza route and the coastal channel route between the Robertson Island and the 72° 30' S position. Also, topographic and aerial photographic surveys of the Larsen Ice Shelf were made.<ref name=fundmar1/>

In 1965 two Gamma Centauro sounding rockets developed by the Argentine Air Force and two high altitude balloons carrying instruments for x-ray measurements where launched from the base, under collaboration with the University of Tucumán and the Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales.<ref name=fundmar1/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/matienzo.htm|title=Encyclopedia Astronautica – Matienzo|publisher=Astronautix|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327005422/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/matienzo.htm|archivedate=27 March 2009|quote=In 1952 Argentina was one of the founding members of the International Astronautical Federation. [...] Argentina was the first country in Latin America to send an object into space using an indigenously-developed rocket.|url-status=dead}}</ref> That year the base name was changed to the present one.

On 29 July 1968 a Beaver P-05 took off from Matienzo with the mission of assisting a critically ill medical patient in the British Base "F" on the Argentine Islands. Amidst very bad weather, the aircraft crashed without casualties and the evacuation had to be delayed until the icebreaker ARA ''General San Martín'' could finally take over and succeed with the mission.<ref name=fundmar1/>

Matienzo stayed closed through the 1972–1973 campaign, and was reopened on 8 September 1974; it was closed again for the 1984–1985 campaign and reopened once again, although it has been a summer-only base ever since.

==Description== {{As of|2008}} Matienzo is composed of 6 buildings and includes facilities such as: main and emergency houses, airstrip, helipad, fuel platform, central power station with two Antarctic gas oil generators, waste treatment plant, laboratory, freezing chamber, a warehouse and several deposits.<ref name=fundmar1/> The {{convert|1500|m|abbr=on}} long airstrip is located over a nearby glacier {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} away, and is usable by all kind of ski-mounting aircraft.<ref name=dna1>{{cite web|url=http://www.dna.gov.ar/INTINFO/ARGPERES.HTM|title=Intercambio de información – Información Permanente|publisher=Dirección Nacional del Antártico|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517141559/http://www.dna.gov.ar/INTINFO/ARGPERES.HTM|archivedate=17 May 2013}}</ref> The snow-covered helipad is {{convert|1500|m|abbr=on}} south from the base; several Bell 212 helicopters are used for deployment and supply of scientific personnel. Matienzo also has a basic {{convert|15|m2|abbr=on}} infirmary attended by a paramedic.

Periodically a Twin Otter aircraft deals with the transfer of personnel and cargo, as well as waste evacuation.<ref name=fundmar1/> The base actively manages preservation and restoration of the surrounding environment; garbage and waste is removed, concentrated, classified, packaged and compacted for later disposal in the Argentine mainland.<ref name=fundmar1/>

===Scientific activity=== Scientists at Matienzo carry out meteorological, ionospheric, oceanographic and snow science observations; they perform aerial photographic surveys and studies on geology and geophysics involving high precision gravity and magnetism measurements.<ref name=fundmar1/>

Scientific and technical staff of the Argentine Antarctic Institute uses part of its facilities for winter–spring activities. The base is the launching point for expeditions to the Larsen Ice Shelf and Jason Peninsula. Staff of the National Meteorological Service commissioned at Matienzo keeps track of the masses of ice, solar radiation and atmospheric parameters.<ref name=fundmar1/>

Retreat and collapse of the Larsen Ice Shelf is constantly monitored by analyzing satellite imagery, GPS positioning and terrain data to investigate the ice-climate interactions in critical areas under climate change conditions.<ref name=fundmar1/>

==Climate== The median annual temperature at the base is {{convert|−11.6|C|abbr=on}}; the highest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|13.1|C|abbr=on}} on 16 March 1965, and the lowest, {{convert|−44.4|C|abbr=on}} on 5 August 1964.<ref name=fundmar1/>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Matienzo Station|Matienzo Base}} * {{citation|url=http://www.marambio.aq/matienzo.html|title=Fundaciòn Marambio – Base Aérea Teniente Benjamín Matienzo|language=es|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308220237/http://www.marambio.aq/matienzo.html|archivedate=2014-03-08}} * {{citation|url=http://www.dna.gov.ar/INGLES/INDEX.HTM|title=Dirección Nacional del Antártico|language=es|type=official website|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303004340/http://www.dna.gov.ar/INGLES/INDEX.HTM|archivedate=2011-03-03}}

{{Portal bar|Earth sciences|Geography|Argentina}} {{ArgentineAntarctica|state=uncollapsed}} {{Antarctic research stations}} {{Antarctica topics}} {{Argentina space program}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Base Aerea Teniente Benjamin Matienzo}} Category:Argentine Air Force bases Matienzo Category:Populated places established in 1961 Category:1961 establishments in Antarctica Category:Military installations established in 1961