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Transportation

Ports and harbors: None; offshore anchorage only.

Airports: 17; 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, one is longer than 3 km, six are between 2 km and 3 km, three are between 1 km and 2 km, three are less than 1 km, and two are of unknown length.

Snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15 locations. Of these, four are greater than 3 km in length, three are between 2 km and 3 km, two are between 1 km and 2 km, two are less than 1 km in length, and four are of unknown length.

Airports are generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions. They do not meet ICAO standards and advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental operating organization is required for landing (1998 est.).

Airports with unpaved runways:
>> total: 17
>> 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 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook 1999