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  5. 35. Pendulum Cove

35. Pendulum Cove
35.Pendulum Cove
 
62º56´00´´S, 60º36´00´´W
Small cove on the northeastern side of Port Foster, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands.
Latest Revision: 2018
 
Key Features
 
• Geothermally Heated Water
• Historic Site and Monument No. 76: Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda, abandoned Chilean station
• Comprises part of Deception Island Antarctic Specially Managed Area No 4.
 
Description
TOPOGRAPHY
Small cove on the north-eastern side of Port Foster. The gently sloping ash and cinder beach leads to the HSM.
No breeding fauna normally present at this site. There have been occasional references to nesting Blue-Eyed Shags at the site and Antarctic Terns are regular visitors to the area.
FLORA

None. However, the slope to the southeast of HSM 76, which is part of ASPA 140, is currently colonized by numerous moss and lichen species, including two species of moss that are not found anywhere else in the Antarctic.

OTHER
A range of scientific activities are normally carried out in the area.

The remains of the abandoned Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda Station (Chile), Historic Site and Monument No. 76, which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1967 are a dramatic visual representation of the force of a volcanic eruption. The station was inaugurated on February 1955 and supported research activities on volcanology, climatology and meteorology. In 1965 a weather forecasting office was installed in the station to provide regular and permanent information for the activities in the South Shetland Islands area. Its operation ended violently on December 1967, when a volcanic eruption destroyed it.
 
Visitor Impact
KNOWN IMPACTS
None.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
Damage to HSM 76; Disturbance to scientific activities and equipment. Accidental entry into and trampling of the vegetation in ASPA 140.
 
Landing Requirements
SHIPS*
Max pax on board: 500
Ships at a time: 1
Comments: Maximum 3 ships per day (midnight to midnight), of which no more than 2 can carry over 200 passengers.

* A ship is defined as a vessel which carries more than 12 passengers.
VISITORS
Maximum number of visitors at any time, exclusive of expedition guides and leaders: 100
Visitors per guide: 15
 
Visitor Area
LANDING AREA
Access by sea all along the coastline of Pendulum Cove.
CLOSED AREA
Entry into site G of the ASPA 140 is prohibited. Guides or markers should be deployed/installed at the site in order to clearly indicate the boundaries of the ASPA.
GUIDED WALKING AREA
Guides should be deployed around the Historic Site and Monument No. 76 site during visits. Visits to the HSM should only be carried out in small groups (less than 15 people) led by informed guides. Visitors should keep outside the periphery of the ruins of the main building and not travel within the remains. Visitors should not go inland beyond the station ruins.
FREE ROAMING AREA
Visitors may roam freely, but under close supervision, except in the closed and guided walking areas.
 
 
Visitor code of conduct
BEHAVIOUR ASHORE
  • Approaching closer than 20m can significantly affect the readings of sensitive scientific equipment. Maintain a distance of at least 20 metres from all monitoring equipment deployed in the area surrounding HSM 76. This equipment measures seismic activity and other volcanic indicators and are part of seismic network of Deception Island real time surveillance. A map of Deception Island seismic instrumentation, including seismic monitoring equipment will be available and updated for every season.
  • Do not dig bathing pits.
  • Do not walk on any vegetated areas. Elsewhere, tread gently to avoid disturbing ground surfaces which may host inconspicuous biota.
  • Respect conduct of scientific activities. Avoid interrupting researchers at work.
  • Visits are to be undertaken in line with the Management Plan for Deception Island Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) No. 4.
CAUTIONARY NOTES
• Water temperatures in excess of 70°C have been recorded at Pendulum Cove. Bathers are to be made aware of the potential risk of scalding. Expedition staff should carefully choose a ‘bathing area’ for passengers where the hot water mixes with the cooler sea-water. Shoes or boots should be worn when entering the water to avoid scalding one's feet.
• For safety reasons, only small groups of visitors (less than 15 people) are to approach the Historic Site and Monument No. 76 simultaneously. Avoid areas of scattered construction materials (broken metals, etc.).
• Caution should be taken approaching the HSM due to dangerous holes in the area, a distance of 15 metres should be maintained from the HSM.
• All visits must be planned to take into account the significant risk posed by the threat of volcanic eruption
 
Pendulum Cove Beach
 
HSM 76 Aguirre Cerda Station ruins
 
 
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