Peru to reopen Antarctica research base

Peruvian scientists are reopening their research base in Antarctica after a five-year hiatus, a spokesman for the Peruvian Foreign Ministry said. Scientists are expected to set off for their Machu Picchu base Jan. 5 aboard the research vessel BIC Humboldt, spokesman Nicolas Roncagliolo said. "Thankfully to help from other countries we managed to maintain Machu Picchu base in a working condition and even hold some experiments there; however, our country can now independently speed up its scientific researches and to finally restore its presence in Antarctica," he said. The base was opened February 1989 and consists of four buildings, RIA Novosti reported Thursday. The base will host 23 scientists in January.