Page "Dumont d'Urville Station" Paragraph 2

A pioneering French Antarctic research station, Port Martin, located 62 km east of D ' Urville, was destroyed by fire on the night of January 23, 1952, without death or injury.

In 1952, a small base was built on Île des Pétrels to study a rookery of Emperor Penguins.

This base was called Base Marret.

As the main base Port Martin was a total loss, Base Marret was chosen as overwintering site for 1952 / 1953.

The new main base, Dumont D ' Urville station, was built on the same island and opened on January 12, 1956, to serve as center for French scientific research during the Antarctic International Geophysical Year 1957 / 1958.

The station has remained in active use ever since.