III Framework conditions

The TROLL station in the Gjelsvik mountains in Queen Maud Land is located at 72°30'S, 2°30'E, at an elevation of 1260 m above sea level. The station has 10 beds, a mess hall and workshops. There is also a generator building, a garage, two mobile buildings, two tracked vehicles and several snowmobiles. The station is of obvious importance for Norway's summer expeditions. However, a cost/benefit assessment indicates that Norway should not use the station for overwintering.

At Norway's instigation, the bird cliffs at Svarthamaren was named a SCAR Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is expected that Norway will play a prominent part in investigating the bird life there.

Norway's research activities in Antarctica will be evaluated and conducted in accordance with the "Regulations regarding environmental protection in Antarctica" and the "Regulations regarding the protection of Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters as a nature reserve".