Inside The World's Loneliest ATM In Antarctica That Has Been Working Since 25 Years

Despite being the southernmost continent covered with vast sheets of ice and virtually no inhabitants, Antarctica is still a place where money matters, quite literally. The continent is in fact home to the world's loneliest ATM.

World's Loneliest ATM In Antarctica

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As per Guinness World Records, the two ATMs located in Antarctica's McMurdo Station are the most southerly, and isolated cash machines (ATMs). The two ATMs were installed by American banking conglomerate Wells Fargo 25 years ago (in 1998) at McMurdo Station, the largest science hub on the continent.

Depending on the season, McMurdo¡¯s population ranges from 250 to more than 1,000. And like any small community, commerce is crucial. In order to patronize the coffee shops, general stores, bars, or post office, money is exchanged in what amounts to a closed economy. Some places only accept cash; others have a credit card minimum that¡¯s hard to meet when you need just a couple of items.

What Currency Does The ATM Dispense?

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While McMurdo station is near New Zealand territory, the ATM only dispenses American currency. There is no such thing as the Antarctic dollar as currency, though the Antarctica Overseas Exchange Office does produce ¡°collectible¡± bills they¡¯ll buy or sell for their face value until the faux money expires.

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What Happens If A Malfunction Happens At The ATM?

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But what happens if there¡¯s a malfunction at a time when flights in and out are scarce due to weather conditions in Antarctica?

According to Mental Floss, Wells Fargo spokesperson Kristopher Dahl had said that the company trains staff in Antarctica to make simple repairs; more importantly, there¡¯s a second ATM that can be cannibalized for parts. ¡°Every two years, both machines are serviced and brought up to speed on the latest technology,¡± he says.

The vendors chosen for that job undergo a psychological exam and a physical to make sure they¡¯re equipped to deal with the Antarctic climate in case they get held over.

Naturally, one would wonder what would happen if someone lost their mind and had the financial resources to max out their daily withdrawal limit until they depleted the ATM of its cash reserves, ruining the economy of an entire continent.

¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± Dahl says. ¡°For security reasons, we can¡¯t share how much cash is in the machine or other related information.¡± Anyone planning any type of foul play should take note: Dahl says that there¡¯s a camera in the ATM.

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