The president of Chile, Gabriel Borich, has gone to Antarctica and became the first Latin American leader to visit the South Pole, the press service of the president's office reports.
"Operation Polestar III is the first trip by a sitting Latin American president to the South Pole and includes visits to the United Polar Station of the Chilean Glacier Union and the Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica," the statement said.
Minister of National Defense Maya Fernandez, Minister of Environment Maisa Rojas, as well as the commanders of the air, naval and ground forces of Chile and two Chilean scientists left for Antarctica with Borich.
"The scientific objectives of the operation are to study the chemical and optical characteristics of surface snow at the South Pole," the text states.
Speaking live from Antarctica, Boric said his trip reaffirms Chile's "Antarctic vocation" and the country's commitment to ensuring that Antarctica "will be and will remain a continent of science and peace for many years to come."
Chile has four active permanent and several seasonal stations in Antarctica.
