George Clarke has an unusual job. For five months of the year, he leaves his home in England to work at a post office in Antarctica. He lives on a tiny island with five other people and 1,000 penguins.
Clarke works as the postmaster at Port Lockroy. He sorts postcards and letters sent by visitors. There are no mail vans in Antarctica, so getting mail to the rest of the world requires help from passing boats. Clarke weighs the mail bags and contacts ships heading north. He asks the crews over the radio or by email to carry the letters, and they are always happy to help.
Running the post office is not Clarke's only duty. He also helps clean the base, monitor local wildlife, and repair old buildings. This year, the team is adding strong wooden and steel supports to the main building to protect its museum and shop from heavy snow.
Living close to a large penguin colony is not always easy. Clarke says the birds are noisy and smelly, but he loves the Antarctic wilderness. This journey is his third trip south to care for the historic post office.