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Country Guide > South America > Antarctica | |
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General Information Area 13,661,000 sq km (5,274,126 sq miles). Geography Antarctica is the largest remaining wilderness on Earth and is still relatively untouched by human impact. It covers an area of 13.6 million sq km around the South Pole and is covered with an ice sheet 4km (2.5 miles) deep. It has no permanent human population other than a small number of personnel at 82 research stations run by 27 different nations. The main human activity undertaken in Antarctica is scientific research, and it was at the British Halley research station that the hole in the ozone layer was discovered in 1985. The constitutional position of Antarctica is governed by the terms of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 (which came into effect in 1961), which was signed initially by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, the UK, Belgium, Japan, South Africa, the USA and the former USSR. The first seven of these countries have historic claims to the ice-bound continent (none of which were - or are - generally recognised) and the Treaty preserves the status quo, neither recognising nor repudiating the old claims, but forbidding their expansion in any way. The terms of the Treaty also forbid, absolutely, the assertion of new claims. The Treaty applies to all land and ice shelves below 60 degrees South. The discovery in 1985 by the British Antarctic Survey of a ‘hole’ in the ozone layer of the Earth’s atmosphere did more than perhaps any other event, bar nuclear accidents, to bring ecology to prominence in the international political agenda. The Antarctic Treaty made no provision for mineral exploitation and in November 1988, an Antarctic Minerals Convention was carefully instigated. This was intended to regulate but not directly prevent the extraction of minerals, and caused much protest from environmental lobbyists. Several nations, led by Australia and France, declined to ratify the Convention. As a result, in 1991, the Antarctic Treaty nations agreed to add the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, which bans mining and provides for a fully comprehensive regime of environmental protection. The Protocol entered into force in 1998 after ratification by each of the 26 Antarctic Treaty nations. In May 1994, the International Whaling Commission agreed to the creation of a whale sanctuary around Antarctica below 40 degrees South. In May 1997, it was suggested by the World Meteorological Organization that the long-term outlook for the ozone layer over the Antarctic was improving. It will take some years for this to be conclusively proved, however. Even depending on a significant reduction of CFCs and other harmful emissions, it is unlikely that the hole will repair itself permanently (if, indeed, it does at all) before 2060 at the earliest. Scientists from many nations collaborate on research projects in Antarctica. Every summer about 5000 of them travel to the continent to obtain vital information on the Earth’s ecosystem. Antarctica’s ice and sediment cores provide insights into how the world’s climatic system functioned in the past. Studies of the Antarctic ice sheet help predict future sea levels, knowledge which is crucial to our future given that 50 per cent of the world’s population lives in coastal areas. Information on the break up of continents and the interaction between the Sun’s wind and the outer limits of the Earth’s atmosphere can be gained from studies here. Tourism in Antarctica Tourism cruises are now available to Antarctica, sub-Antarctic islands such as South Georgia and other polar regions, and are becoming increasingly popular. Itineraries vary according to the type of vessel. For trips beyond the Antarctic Peninsula an ice-strengthened ship is required. Most trips depart from Ushuaia (in Argentina) or Punta Arenas (in Chile). The passage from South America to the Antarctic Peninsula takes approximately two days. Activities on these tours typically include observing a variety of polar animals (including penguins, albatrosses, seals and whales), visiting scientific stations and historic sites, and witnessing the austere beauty of the Antarctic scenery. Some ice-strengthened ships also provide helicopters for accessing emperor penguin colonies. For further details, contact the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (see Contact Addresses section). |