Much of Antarctica is uninhabitable, meaning there isn’t much life to be found on the icy continent. There are only 2 established settlements on the whole continent and the majority of the population consists of researchers, scientists, and military personnel. However, there is one rule everyone must follow in order to live here. It might seem strange at first but a requirement for living in Villas Las Estrellas, a settlement with a population of around 100 citizens, is to have your appendix removed.
What Scientists Know
Scientists and explorers have studied every continent, sailed to every island, and have even gone into space. Nonetheless, Antarctica has such harsh conditions that it’s still a place of mystery, estimated that it wasn’t discovered until sometime in 1820. Despite this limited research, scientists do know a few things about the mysterious icy continent. Antarctica is the windiest and driest continent.
The highest temperature ever recorded for Antarctica was 67.6 degrees Fahrenheit (19.8 C) set in the 1980s. Otherwise, it’s predominantly below freezing, with an average temperature of -76 degrees Fahrenheit. Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost, coldest, and least populated continent. Some parts have an altitude of around 21,000 ft above sea level, although the average is somewhere around 1,700.
Because of the extreme cold, there is always high air pressure over the polar region, meaning the body, nerves, and joints also experience higher pressure or strain.
Understanding the Appendix and its Role
The appendix is a 4-inch tube at the beginning of your intestines and is part of the digestive system. Until recently, the appendix was thought not to serve any purpose to the body, but Scientists are finding this may not be the case. Some research shows the appendix may be a “storage unit” for healthy bacteria. These bacteria are useful for aiding digestion and maintaining overall health. Nonetheless, the body can still perform all necessary functions without the appendix.
Appendicitis is a very common ailment in which the appendix becomes inflamed or swollen. Bacterial infections usually cause appendicitis but can easily be treated. Recent studies have shown the most common treatment for mild cases is antibiotics. Surgery is performed in more serious cases.
The appendix is removed from the body and in its place, all that remains is a scar. A common question comes to mind, why must the appendix be removed prior to living in Antarctica, especially if treatment can be done so easily?
Read: ‘Like Time Travel’: Explorer’s Ship Found Off Antarctica’s Coast 100 Years After South Pole Expedition
Safety Concerns
If you’re inquisitive and fascinated by science, you may have thought up a complex answer. Perhaps you thought the freezing temperatures made appendicitis more dangerous. Maybe you thought the change in air pressure was to blame. However, the answer is much simpler.
It has to do with location. Villas Las Estrellas is located in Chile’s Frei base on King George Island. Other than the homes of the personnel mentioned above, the settlement doesn’t have much else. It consists only of a school and a post office.
Treatment isn’t easy because the nearest hospital is over 600 miles away and appendicitis can become lethal pretty rapidly. The settlement has limited doctors, and none are specialists. Additionally, pregnant women are discouraged from taking up residency in Antarctica due to a lack of resources and medical supplies.
Surgery Requirements
There is good news for those who are on short research trips. Trips that range from weeks to months do not have this clause in their contracts and there is no obligation to undergo the procedure. Long-term residents, on the other hand, will have to have their appendixes removed. These are primarily Chile’s Navy or Air Force personnel.
Those with contracts that span over a year or longer have to agree to these terms. Their families will also have to have their appendixes removed if they want to live together for the duration of the contracts.
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Sources
- “What does the appendix do?” Healthline. Elizabeth Connor. April 26, 2017.
- “Antarctica’s climate: The key factors. Discovering Antarctica. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- “The Icy Village Where You Must Remove Your Appendix.” BBC Future. Richard Fisher. September 2, 2018.
- “Town requires residents to have appendix removed – for very important reason.” The Sun. Adrian Zorzut. January 13, 2022.