On the first of January a brass marker is placed on the geographical South Pole indicating the exact position of the South Pole for that year. This marker designates the exact location of the South Pole at 90 degrees south. The South Pole sits on a thick sheet of ice that moves between 10 to 30 meters each year since it’s first marker was placed in 1956.
Ceremonial South Pole at Amundsen Station
Image courtesy www.newzeal.com/
The ceremonial South Pole is surrounded by the flags of the Antarctic Treaty Nations. You can see the dome of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in the background.
Data from a GPS is used to mark the exact placement of 90 degrees south latitude. Each marker is about 12 feet long, but about two-thirds of it gets pounded into the ground. The markers are only left up for a few years before they are stored away in the South Pole Station.
Here are images of the “true” South Pole Markers going back to 1996 and a bonus bicentennial marker.
2009
Image courtesy humanedgetech.com/expedition/nwpassage
2008
Image courtesy National Science Foundation
2007
Image courtesy of National Science Foundation
2006
Image courtesy of National Science Foundation
2005
Image courtesy National Science Foundation
2004
Image courtesy National Science Foundation
2003
Image courtesy National Science Foundation
2002
Image courtesy amanda.uci.edu
2001
Image Courtesy rnc.lbl.gov
2000
Image courtesy www.physicschick.com/
1999
Image courtesy tea.armadaproject.org
1998
Image courtesy www.drexel.edu
1997
Image courtesy astro.uchicago.edu
1996
Image courtesy astro.uchicago.edu
1975-76
Image courtesy www.southpolestation.com
Past Markers
Image courtesy www.cortada.com
In 2007 Miami artist Xavier Cortada marked 51 years of south pole markers with flags where the markers once stood. Each flag has the year it represents on it and the coordinates of a place on earth Cortada deemed important during that year.
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20 Responses
The exact location moves that much each year? Wow! That’s almost incomprehensible to me. Very weird, and very interesting.
DazzlinDonnas last blog post..Finding The Image Of You and Your Business
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Thanks for the share. I’ve not thought about this before!
Annes last blog post..January brings thoughts of summer on the Vineyard and beyond
Wow! I didn’t realize that there were commemorative markers at the South Pole. This would be a great addition to a Geography lesson.
Sandra Foyts last blog post..Dulce de Leche: A Sweet New Girl Scout Cookie
I used to be a homeless rodeo clown but now I am a world class magician !
I had no clue that the South pole ever moved at ALL, much less that much!
Scott Hendisons last blog post..WordPress Checklist Now a Plug-In
Americans never cease to be amazing!
Nairobian Perspectives last blog post..USA President Barack Hussein Obama’s Speech Transcript
Wow, truly amazing. I would love to see it one day!
RT
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I love the photos. Brrrrrrrr! Makes me want to wrap my scarf a little tighter and button my coat a little higher!
Moms At Works last blog post..Has anyone seen my mommy mojo?
What a cool post! I had no idea they put a new marker down each year. Makes sense though. Very cool, and thanks for all the photos to go with it!
Rheas last blog post..Armies in my Living Room
Fascinating! Really. I like the visual from the last photo of all of the previous years marker locations. That is cool.
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Another enlightening post by you guys. Learn something new every time I read one of your posts. Sure wish we could travel to the South Pole, what a fabulous adventure that would be. The trip of a lifetime!
It is the marker (ice surface) that moves. The south poles moves, but no were near that fast. Saw the 1997 marker on the “Pawn Stars” TV show.
Just saw the 1997 marker on Pawn Stars…which lead me to this site!
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The southpole does NOT MOVE AT ALL. All these comments from people who are flabbergasted that the south pole moves every year seem to have poor reading comprehension. The purpose of the markers is to mark the exact location of the south pole which NEVER MOVES. The ice on top moves, and that moves the marker so they have to put a new one down each year. If that’s “almost incomprehensible” to anyone, that person shouldn’t be allowed near a fork without a cork on it.