MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Queen Sonja visits the “White Continent”.

Queen Sonja landed on the new Norwegian airfield in the Antarctic just after midnight in a Norwegian Hercules transport plane from Cape Town in South Africa following a nine-hour flight.

The Queen will spend nearly two days in the region Queen Maud Land. On Saturday the Monarch will participate in the inauguration of Troll station, a Norwegian weather research station that has been transformed into a base capable of housing seven people throughout the winter.

Norwegian authorities have decided to show a stronger presence on the Antarctic continent, by establishing a permanent polar research station. A new, large airfield has been built on the glacier, and an extensive research programme has also been established.

This is the first Norwegian royal visit to the Antarctic.

Her busy schedule includes a visit to a South African Sanae IV research station and a large bird mountain, as well as a long hike in the spectacular mountains near the base.