Villa Las Estrellas in Antarctica is one of the most remote permanent settlements on Earth, complete with a school, post office, and hospital serving the roughly 100 residents who brave temperatures as low as -47°C.
Life in Antarctica's Tiny Frozen Town
Imagine living somewhere so remote that your nearest neighbors are penguins, and the closest major city is over 1,000 kilometers away across the most treacherous seas on Earth. Welcome to Villa Las Estrellas, a Chilean settlement on King George Island in Antarctica.
This isn't a research base staffed by rotating scientists—it's an actual town, complete with families, children, and all the mundane necessities of civilian life transplanted to the bottom of the world.
A Real Community on the Ice
Villa Las Estrellas ("Town of the Stars") was established in 1984 as part of Chile's effort to maintain a permanent civilian presence in Antarctica. The population fluctuates between about 80 people in winter and 150 in summer, making it one of only two civilian settlements on the entire continent.
What you'll find here might surprise you:
- A primary school serving children ages 5-12
- A hospital with emergency medical facilities
- A post office (yes, you can mail postcards from Antarctica)
- A bank branch
- A small supermarket
- A gymnasium and community center
Surviving the Extremes
Living here requires genuine commitment. Winter temperatures plunge to -47°C (-53°F), and the sun disappears entirely for weeks during the polar night. Summer "warmth" means temperatures hovering around freezing.
Residents are primarily military families and researchers, though the Chilean government has encouraged civilian settlement to strengthen territorial claims. Before moving here, pregnant women must arrive before their third trimester—several babies have been born in Villa Las Estrellas, making them some of the only people in history to be native Antarcticans.
Not Quite the End of the World
Despite its extreme isolation, the town has adapted to modern life. Satellite internet connects residents to the outside world, and supply ships bring food and equipment during the navigable summer months. There's even a small Orthodox church nearby, serving the Russian Bellingshausen Station.
The children attend the Escuela F-50, possibly the world's most southerly school. Teachers rotate through on multi-year assignments, and students follow the standard Chilean curriculum—though their field trips are decidedly more unusual than most.
Why Live Here?
For the families who choose this life, the appeal varies. Some are drawn by adventure, others by the tight-knit community, and many by the extraordinary natural environment. Where else can children grow up watching elephant seals on the beach and learning to identify penguin species before they learn long division?
The isolation that makes Villa Las Estrellas so remarkable also creates an intense sense of community. When you're one of 100 people on an ice-covered island, everyone knows everyone—and everyone helps everyone.