Chief
of State: - Head of Government: - Government Type: Antarctic Treaty
Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959
and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the
legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the
26th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in
Madrid, Spain
Population Demographics
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants Languages: - Religion: - Life Expectancy: -
Economic Information
Currency:
- GDP(per capita) - Overview: Fishing off the coast
and tourism, both based abroad, account for Antarctica's
limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in 2003-04
(1 July-30 June) reported landing 136,262 metric tons
(estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention
on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(CCAMLR), which extends slightly beyond the Antarctic
Treaty area). Unregulated fishing, particularly of Patagonian
toothfish, is a serious problem. The CCAMLR determines
the recommended catch limits for marine species. A total
of 23,175 tourists visited in the 2004-05 Antarctic
summer, up from the 19,486 visitors the previous year.
Nearly all of them were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental)
ships and several yachts that make trips during the
summer. Most tourist trips last approximately two weeks.
Exports: - Import: -
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Geography
Information
Location:
continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle Area: total: 14 million sq km
land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72
million sq km ice-covered) (est.)
Background:
Speculation over the existence of a "southern land"
was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British
and American commercial operators and British and Russian
national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula
region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle.
Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was
indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.
Several exploration "firsts" were achieved
in the early 20th century. Following World War II, there
was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent.
A number of countries have set up year-round research
stations on Antarctica. Seven have made territorial
claims, but not all countries recognize these claims.
In order to form a legal framework for the activities
of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was
negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition
to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered
into force in 1961.
