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Antarctica

The Political Geography of Antarctica(Part I)

• Lacks an indigenous /permanent population, States, colonies, dependencies and civil divisions

• Inhospitable in climate, surface cover, and accessibility• Numerous and sometimes conflicting pie-chart claims g p

dating from 1908-1943. None are regarding as sovereign territory.

• Remoteness results in limited geopolitical significance• Arguably, the most peaceful place on Earth.• A center of cooperative research since the International

Geophysical Year (IGU), 1957

The Political Geography of Antarctica(Part II)

• Governed by the Antarctica Treaty, 1959– Nuclear free– Preserves and conserves “living resources”– Principal focus is on krill and whaling

• Major concerns:– Tourism– Pollution– Exemption from UNCLOS rulings– Over-fishing

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Antarctic Treaty(or Antarctic Treaty System – ATS)

• A series of agreements that codify and regulate international relations within the context of Antarctica – defined by the treaty as the continent and its ice shelves south of Latitude 60° SouthLatitude 60 South.

• Took effect in 1961.• Sets aside Antarctica as a preserve for

scientific research.• Military activity is banned.• The first Cold War-era arms control

agreement.

McMurdo Station (U.S)

McMurdo Station

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Eduardo Frei Base (Chile) Antarctica Pollution

Krill Japanese Whaling Vesselin Antarctic Waters

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Confrontation between Sea Shepherd vessel Japanese whaler off Antarctica

2/17/11: Whaling season cancelled two months early

Antarctica Tourism trends in Antarctica