Bottoms up at the South Pole

This year nearly 200 people will spend Christmas at the South Pole

The South Pole is one of the most desolate places on earth with winter temperatures plunging down to more than -110F.

The region has no permanent inhabitants - but it is the site of a scientific research centre, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Run by the US National Science Foundation it provides a base from which experts study space as well as the earth's climactic changes.

The Amundsen-Scott base is an international research station

It is now summer in the Antarctic and the busiest time of the year for the station, made even more hectic because much of the centre is currently being rebuilt.

Lisa Beal, the station's computer technician, told BBC News Online how she will be spending Christmas at the bottom of the world.

'Ice-o-lation' at the Pole by Lisa Beal

I have a pretty good idea how we will celebrate the arrival of 'Father Christmas' on station and I am looking forward to the two days holiday.

My two main activities during this time will be enjoying the Christmas feast and catching up on much-needed sleep. Merriment will be the word of the day. My favourite part will be sharing stories of Christmas celebration with my colleagues from around the globe.

Lisa Beal and a colleague on her birthday last month

South Pole is an international research station, and our population includes scientists and support staff from the UK, the US, Russia, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Italy, Argentina, China, and more; I look forward to hearing how each country marks the holiday season.

Our hard-working galley crew provides us with nutritious and delicious meals around the clock. They have a well-earned reputation for serving the best food on the continent - and are sure to be cooking up something for Christmas.

Small gifts

Much of the station is being rebuilt this year

Due to the scarcity of materials, a small stock of gifts in the station store, known as "PoleMart", and strict weight limits for travellers (my 'whole life' packs into half a dozen bags weighing around 70 kg) what gifts we exchange will have to be both small and inexpensive. This is probably just as well, as a simpler life is easier to maintain here at the bottom of the world.

But as I have done in my past seven trips to the ice, I will mail gifts to my house and distribute them upon my return from 'ice-o-lation' at the Pole.

I miss my friends and family very much, especially at Christmas. I am fortunate that this station has access to several satellites for electronic mail. Almost all of my stateside contacts have e-mail, so the emotional isolation is not too bad.

'The wind and cold'

Currently there is a flight to the station every couple of days

Right now it's summer down here and as this is my first stay at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, the physical effects have been more noticeable and more pronounced for me.

When I arrived on 28 October, the temperatures were about -50F and winds drove the wind-chill factor to around -90F. The extreme cold weather gear we are all issued protects us from the wind and cold, but not from the extreme dryness.

"Itching peeling skin, brown patches on the face (where the gear has not protected fragile skin from frostbite), and mild to moderate dehydration greet the new arrivals within the first week.

'Constant blinding daylight'

The summer temperature is about -10F, but in winter it can drop to as low as -115F

Even drinking five litres of water daily and passing up every chance to drink a pint of beer or a cup of coffee, I had an uncomfortable battle with dehydration.

It took me about two weeks to get used to the dryness, the altitude (equivalent to a physio-altitude of around 10,000-11,000ft, depending on the barometric pressure), and the constant blinding daylight.

Now, I can keep all the physical effects in check by simply watching what I eat and drink. I can even treat myself to the occasional beer or small glass of sherry!

But contrary to any rumours you may have heard, alcohol consumption down here is quite moderate, even at Christmas. At this altitude, a little bit goes a long way, anyhow.

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Over the next week BBC News Online is publishing a series of stories from people who are spending Christmas in remote places.