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From Lt Cdr David E. Bunger's first view of a mysterious ice-free area from the window of a seaplane in 1947 during the United States Navy’s Operation Highjump, to the wonders revealed in today’s overflights and satellite imagery, Bunger Hills has remained a largely hidden place. Its location, surrounded by the ice sheet, heavily crevassed glaciers and Shackleton Ice Shelf, has ensured that sea- and land-based approaches are difficult and rarely attempted. Despite the challenge and cost of visits to the area, there has been a history of expeditions supported from a range of nations. A number of huts were constructed to support over-wintering parties by Soviet and Polish expeditions in the 1950s. Several dozen summering expeditions followed, with further huts being built by an Australian party in 1985. American, German and private expeditions followed, undertaking biological, geological, glaciological, lacustrine and logistical studies. Despite numerous examples of co-operation and collaboration, there has not yet been a systematic...