McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research centre located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National Science Foundation. The station is the largest community in Antarctica, capable of supporting up to 1,258 residents, and serves as the United States Antarctic science facility. All personnel and cargo going to or coming from Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station first pass through McMurdo.

A little girl hangs three Siamese kittens on a washing line in a garden in Croydon, London. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). 14th July 1931

Manuela Vargas at a dress rehearsal for “The Tigress of the Flamenco” given by her company at the Vaudeville Theatre, London. (Photo by Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Getty Images). 4th November 1964

Taronga Zoo's elephant baby, as yet unnamed, is seen at Taronga Zoo on March 12, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. The Asian Elephant calf has continued to make progress following a protracted labour that spanned six days. The calf was originally believed to have died in the womb during labour but surprised veterinarians and zoo staff with an unexpected delivery early Wednesday morning. (Photo by Bobby-Jo Vial/Taronga Zoo via Getty Images)

A protester wears a pig mask as he marches through the streets of downtown Vancouver with thousands of people participating in the Occupy Vancouver protest on October 15, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Thousands of people are taking to the streets in cities across the world today in demonstrations inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City. An estimated 2,000 people participated in the Vancouver occupation. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

Santa Students practice dancing during the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School workshop on October 16, 2008 in Midland, Michigan. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Mongolian herder, Khurelsukh, throws the carcass of a goat onto a heap as he struggles to deal with losing a quarter of his herd, on March 8, 2010 in Bayantsogt, Tuv province, Mongolia. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)

Finding just the right spot above the clouds at Camp 1 on Ama Dablam, Danuru Sherpa uses his iPhone to catch up with friends and family. Even at 18,500 feet (5,654 meters), climbers here can check their email and other dispatches from the world below. (Photo by Aaron Huey/National Geographic)