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At Antarctica’s midwinter, a look back at the frozen continent’s long history of dark behavior

As the mid -winter day approaches the Antarctica – the longest and nails per year – those who spend the winter will be followed on the frozen continent a The tradition dating back more than a century To the early days of exploration in Antarctica: They will celebrate that they have passed the growing darkness and when they know that the sun is on its way back.

Experience of spending a Winter in Antarctica can be horrificEven when living with modern amenities such as hot running water and hot buildings. At the beginning of the current winter season, in March 2025, the global media reported that workers are in South Africa Research Station, Sana IVHe was “ShookWhen it was claimed that one of the workers had threatened and assaulted other members at the station Winter crew nine people. Psychologists intervene – remotely – and it seems that the system has been restored.

The closed and isolated environment in Antarctica can be difficult for its inhabitants. your Antarctica historianSanae IV events are a continuation of perceptions – and facts – which can lead to Antarctica’s environments to disturb deep behavior and even push people to madness.

Early views

Imagine the first examples of literature in Antarctica The continent that affects both the mind and the body. In 1797, for example, more than two decades before the continent The first person to see the EuropeansThe English poet Samuel Taylor Colleridge wrote “The old Rayim Mariner“He tells a story about the ship that the storms exploded in an endless maze of ice in Antarctica, from which they flee by following Qatar.

In 1838, Edgar Alan Bo published a story “Story”Arthur Gordon Pim from Nantukte“Who traveled to the southern ocean. Even before reaching the Antarctica, the story involves rebellion and eating human meat and its crew ship by the dead men. With the end of the story, Bim and two other two south, and they face a tremendous treachery, apparently endless fog before their boat, reveal a big ghost character.

HP lovecraft story 1936In the mountains of madness” He was Almost certainly on Real stories of polar exploration. In that, men of the fake campaign in Antarctica face conditions.We just wanted to escape from this Australian world From ruin and madness, as soon as possible. “One man so that he does not reveal his name.”Final horrorThis causes severe mental breakdown.

John Carptter 1982 movieThing” also It involves these topicsWhen men trapped at a research station in Antarctica by a foreigner are perfectly impersonating the essential members who were killed. The madness of greatness and anxiety is abundant, with feverish members of the team to help, imprison men, leave abroad or even be killed for others.

Whether they will get what may come or as an interesting tradition, the winter crew in the winter is in The Antarctic Station of the United States Watch this movie every year After leaving the last trip before the winter.

Real tales

These stories about “madness” in Antarctica have some basis in history. A long -term story in the polar circles in the modern Antarct Chess at the Foskok Station Russia in 1959.

It was more certain reports in 2018, When Sergey SAVITSKY OLOG BELOGUZOV is stabbed At the Russian Bellingshausen research station for many grievances, including those that the most satisfied media seized: Mail Bilogosov to Detection of endings From the books Savitsky was reading. A Criminal charge against him It was dropped.

In 2017, employees of the Marion Island Island South Island Station in South Africa reported that one of the team members A colleague’s room was broken On a romantic relationship.

Mental health

Fears about mental health in Antarctica are back. In the so -called “heroic era” for exploration in Antarctica, from about 1897 to about 1922, the leaders of the campaign gave the priority to mental health for men in their campaigns. They knew that their crews would be besieged inside the same small group for several consecutive months, in the dark and severe cold.

American doctor Friedrich Cook, who accompanied the Billegica Mission 1898-1899, wrote the first group known to spend the winter inside the circle in Antarctica, in helpless phrases “governed by” the “mercy” of the natural forces and his concerns about.Unknown cool and its effects of the soulIn the darkness of winter. In his book in 2021 on this campaign, the writer Julian Sancton launched the ship.Madhouse at the end of the earth

Cook fears have become real. Most men complained of “a general organization of strength, and insufficient heart work, from a Mental inactivity, and a universal feeling of discomfort

“When they fully hit them,” men felt that they would definitely die “and showed” a spirit of despair. “

In the words of the Australian physicist Luis Berkashi, a member of the South Cross Journey, 1898-1900,There is something particularly internal and not strange In the effect of the gray weather on a night in the Antarctic, through the uncertain medium, the cold white landscapes like the borders of a devil world are waved on the horizon like the borders of the devil world. “

A painful journey

A few years later, the Australian Australian Antarctic trip, which lasted from 1911 to 1914, witnessed several major tragedies, including death during an exploratory trip that left the commander of the mission Douglas Muson They are starving and alone in the depth of the terrain in the depth. 100 miles to relative safety Take it for a month.

A group of less well -known events in that same campaign included Sydney Jeffrez, the operator of the Wireless Committee, who arrived in Antarctica in 1913 on a ship. Cape Denison, the base of the campaign, was some of The maximum environmental cases Anyone faced on the continent, including Winds are estimated at more than 160 miles per hour.

Jeffrez, the only man in the crew that can run the radio telegraph, Great signs began to display. He sent the messages to Australia, saying that he was the only sane man in the group and claimed that others were planning to kill him.

In Maoson’s account of the campaign, he blamed the conditions and writing:

Musson expressed his hope that the arrival of spring and the possibility of exercise in the open air, but he did not. Soon after his return to Australia in February 1914, Jeffrez It was found wandering in the Australian bush And institutions. For many years, his role in exploration has been ignored in Antarctic The perfect masculine for explorers in Antarctic.

A group of people stand on a rock beach waving on a small boat at the distance.

Wide problems

Unfortunately, the general focus on the Antarctic continent as a place causes annoying behavior makes it easy to shine on the larger and more systematic problems.

In 2022, the United States Program Antarctica as well as the Australian Pole Division Reports issued indicate that sexual assault and harassment are common In the rules of Antarctica and in remote field camps. Scientists in general Do not link these events to the details of the cold, darkness and isolationBut rather Continental culture to Heroic male.

While humans are looking to live in other extremist environments, such as space, not only Antarctica a The cooperative international scientific community But also a place where human behavior as a whole changes, human behavior changes. Honor celebrations on the middle of the winter in a great place is also a place of terror, as the biggest threat is what is outside, but what is within your mind.

This article has been republished from ConversationAn independent, non -profit news organization brings you facts and trusted analysis to help you understand our complex world. Written by: Daniela Makahiand Texas University of Technology

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Daniella MCCAHEY does not work to, consult or own shares in or receive funding from any company or institution that will benefit from this article, and has not revealed any related affiliations that exceed its academic appointment.

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