Paleo Slide Set: Polar Ice Cores
Vostok Site

The Vostok site was chosen by the Soviet Union for the deep coring possibilities it offered. 
French and, later, American scientists became interested in the Soviet research and began to 
participate in coring activities at the site. This panoramic photo of Vostok Station shows
 the layout of the camp. The striped building on the left is the power station while the 
striped building on the right is where researchers sleep and take meals. The building in 
the background with the red- and white-striped ball on top is the meteorology building. 
Caves were dug into the ice sheet for storage, keeping cores at an ideal -55 degrees C year round. 

Photo Credits:
Todd Sowers 
LDEO, Columbia University, Palisades, New York.