Antarctica

Antarctica is a continent surrounding the Earth's South Pole. It is the coldest place on earth and is almost entirely covered by ice. It is not to be confused with the Arctic, which is located near the Earth's North Pole.

Antarctica was discovered in late January 1820. For more details see the article on the History of Antarctica.

Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in area, after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. However, it is the smallest in population. It is also the continent with the highest average altitude, and the lowest average humidity of any continent on Earth, as well as the lowest average temperature.

It has been assigned the Internet ccTLD .aq.

Table of contents

1 Geography 2 Territorial claims 2.1 Former claims 3 Population 4 See also 5 External links

Geography

Main article: Geography of Antarctica

Territorial claims

Several nations, particularly those close to the continent, made territorial claims in the 20th century. These claims have little practical relevance but continue be observed by cartographers.

Most countries that have observation or study facilities in Antarctica have those facilities within their claimed territory. The Antarctic Treaty defers these claims and most other nations do not recognize them. No other nations have made claims themselves, although the United States and Russia assert the right to do so.

• Argentina: 25°W to 74°W; overlaps Chilean and British claims; claimed 1943 as part of the Tierra del Fuego - Antarctica & South Atlantic Isles; province

• Australia: 160°E to 142°E and 136°E to 45°E; claimed 1933 as the Australian Antarctic Territory
• Brazil: 28°W to 53°W; overlaps Argentine, British and Chilean claims; Zone of Interest designated 1986
• Chile: 53°W to 90°W; Overlaps Argentine and British Claims; claimed 1940, see Chilean Antarctic Territory
• France: 142°E to 136°E; claimed 1924 as part of the French Southern Territories
• New Zealand: 150°W to 160°E; claimed 1923, see Ross Dependency
• Norway: 45°E to 20°E; claimed 1938 as Dronning Maud Land, and including Peter I Island
• United Kingdom: 20°W to 80°W; overlaps Argentine and Chilean claims; claimed 1908, see British Antarctic Territory and the lists of its Administrators, Commissioners, and High Commissioners

Former claims

• Germany: 20°E to 10°W; overlapped Norwegian claim; claimed 1939–1945 as New Schwabenland
• South Africa: claimed 1963–1994

Population

It is usually estimated that at a given time there are at least 1000 people living in Antarctica. This varies strongly with season.

Antarctica has no permanent residents, but a number of governments maintain permanent research stations on the continent. Many of the stations are staffed around the year. These include:

• Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, South Pole (U.S. Antarctic Program)
• Bernardo O'Higgins Station, Antarctic Peninsula, Chilean Army.
• Casey, Vincennes Bay (Australian Antarctic Division)
• Davis Princess Elizabeth Land (Australian Antarctic Division)
• Dumont d'Urville Station (66°40'S, 140°00'E) France
• Eduardo Frei Montalva Station and Villa Las Estrellas, King George Island, Chilean Air Force.
• Georg von Neumayer Station, (70°39'S, 08°15'W) (Atka-Bay) (Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany)
• Halley Research Station (75°35' S, 26°34' W) British Antarctic Survey
• Maitri Station, (70°45.58' S, 11°43.56' E) near Schirmacher Region (Indian Antarctic Program)
• Marambio Station, Seymour-Marambio Island (Argentina) website
• McMurdo Station, Ross Island (U.S.)
• Macquarie Island (Australian Antarctic Division)
• Mawson, Mac Robertson Land (Australian Antarctic Division)
• Palmer Station, Anvers Island (U.S.)
• Rothera Research Station (67°34' S, 68°08' W) British Antarctic Survey
• SANAE (South African National Antarctic Expeditions), on the Fimbul Coastal Ice Shelf in Queen Maud Land
• Scott Base, Ross Island (New Zealand)
• Vostok, Antarctica (78 28'S and 106 48'E) (Russia)

• Ecology of Antarctica
• Climate of Antarctica
• Communications in Antarctica
• Demographics of Antarctica
• Economy of Antarctica
• History of Antarctica
• Government of Antarctica
• Military of Antarctica
• Transportation in Antarctica

• Sub-antarctic islands

• Life in the Freezer, a BBC television series on life on and around Antarctica

• Iceberg gallery
• Portals on the World - Antarctica from the Library of Congress
• British Antarctic Survey
• ANetStation
• The World Factbook – Antarctica from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency

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