Antarctica does not have a permanent resident population, but it has a population of scientific research staff that varies throughout the year. During the summer months, which are milder and allow regular flights and sea voyages, the population of Antarctica is around 5,000 people, including staff and scientists from dozens of different countries. However, during the harsh Antarctic winter, the population drops to around 1,000 people. The most populous Antarctic center is McMurdo Station on Ross Island, south of New Zealand, which is operated by the United States and can accommodate over 1,000 people. The continent of Antarctica has no indigenous inhabitants, only permanent and summer-only staff at its many research stations.