Luis Risopatrón Refuge is an Antarctic Chilean refuge, located at 60°22’17” South, 59°42’53” West on the north shore of Coppermine Cove, Robert Island in Nelson Strait on South Shetland Islands
The refuge lies 100 metres from the Antarctic Specially Protected Area ASPA No.112
Originally, it was called Coppermine Naval shelter and was inaugurated on March 20, 1949 by the Chilean Navy during the commission of Commodore Leopoldo Fontaine. By law No. 19087, enacted on September 24, 1991, the “shelter” was renamed Base Luis Risopatrón, although, due to its characteristics it was known for quite a bit of time, as Luis Risopatrón Refuge. The shelter is located 40 m above sea level, on a solid rock surface, 150 m from the coast. 20 km from the closest base, Captain Arturo Prat, (WAP CHL-Ø1).
The Base installation is made up of 5 modules. Scientific activities concerning terrestrial biology (since 1975) and geology and geophysics (since 1980) have been carried out there. The Base site, has a capacity for a staff of 12 people.
We must say that Risopatron Refuge should not be confused with the Luis Risopatrón Scientific Antarctic Base, which did participate in the activities of the International Geophysical Year on March 3, 1957. This Base was set 60 meters from the O’Higgins Base (WAP CHL-Ø2) with civil resources belonging to the Catholic University of Chile.
It was destroyed by fire on March 10, 1958, just a year after its opening.
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WAP has no evidence of any recent Ham Radio operation from the Base or Refuge, whatever you want, while CE9AE seems to be (so far) the only one who did operate from the Base in 1957.