Woo Hoo!! Party in Antarctica!

Turn the lights down low and cue the Barry White music... are you in the mood?

Ah yes, sure it's cold, dark and gloomy during the extreme Antarctica winter, but that doesn't mean people stationed there aren't having any fun. Oh yeah, they're having a lot of fun as a year's supply of condoms were recently delivered to the U.S. research base to get them through the winter season.

Bill Henriksen, the manager of the McMurdo base station, said nearly 16,500 condoms were delivered last month and would be made available, free of charge, to staff throughout the year to avoid the potential embarrassment of having to buy them.

"Since everybody knows everyone, it becomes a little bit uncomfortable," Henriksen told the Southland Times newspaper.

About 125 scientists and staff are stationed at McMurdo base, the largest community in Antarctica, during the winter months when there is constant darkness [down from a summer high of around 1,000].

While winter is well underway in Antarctic - meaning even if you wanted to, you can't get to this party - the actual "polar night" or day of complete darkness is around the June 20 summer solstice. The first actual sunrise will be on August 20.

The combination of condoms and constant darkness? Yeah baby! That could lead to some swinging parties...or some big troubles...I mean, seriously, you better pay attention to your neighbors!

Antarctica base gets 16,500 condoms before darkness [Reuters]
Antarctica cruise and travel guide [Cool Antarctica]

[Photo via Flickr]