Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean
In order to better understand Antarctica is important to understand the Arctic region first. Antarctica is a continent whereas the Arctic is not.
The Arctic Ocean - The geographic location of the North Pole is located at 90 00 north latitude, 0 00 east longitude. Technically, you could just say that the North Pole is located at 90 00˚ north latitude. Since all lines of longitude end or begin at the geographic North Pole, any line of longitude that you give would be correct!
Many people don't realize that the two poles of the earth are very different. The area at the "top" of the earth is referred to as the "Arctic." |
This area is covered by the smallest of the five oceans- the Arctic Ocean. It is located between the continents of North America, Europe, and Asia. Much of the Arctic is covered by ice throughout the year and portions of it melt during the Arctic summer.
It is important to remember that the Arctic region experiences summer when Antarctica is having winter season. The opposite of this is true when the Arctic is experiencing summer- Antarctica is The Arctic is unique in that it is home certain animals that are only found in the northern hemisphere. Perhaps the most famous of these are polar bears and walruses. The Arctic Circle located 66 degrees, 34 minutes north of the equator. This famous line of latitude is the latitude above which the sun does not set on the summer solstice, and does not rise on the winter solstice. Through the year it is sometimes possible to view the famous Aurora Borealis, better known as the "northern lights." Auroras are created as charged particles, moving away from the sun, collide with the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
It is important to remember that the Arctic region experiences summer when Antarctica is having winter season. The opposite of this is true when the Arctic is experiencing summer- Antarctica is The Arctic is unique in that it is home certain animals that are only found in the northern hemisphere. Perhaps the most famous of these are polar bears and walruses. The Arctic Circle located 66 degrees, 34 minutes north of the equator. This famous line of latitude is the latitude above which the sun does not set on the summer solstice, and does not rise on the winter solstice. Through the year it is sometimes possible to view the famous Aurora Borealis, better known as the "northern lights." Auroras are created as charged particles, moving away from the sun, collide with the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Antarctica
A Brief History of Antarctica
December 14, 1911 has gone down in history as the day that man first arrived at the geographic South Pole. The person who led the expedition was a Norwegian explorer named Roald Amundsen. He, along with four members of his team and approximately 50 dogs, traveled for nearly two months before reaching the South Pole. Before heading back to the coast of Antarctica, they left a flag to prove that they had succeeded in their mission.
At the same time another expedition was competing with Roald Amundsen's team to be the first to reach the South Pole. This expedition was led by an English naval officer by the name of Robert Scott. Their expedition faced several problems along the way that both slowed them down and left them with fewer supplies. But eventually, he and the four other members arrived at the South Pole on January 17, 1912. They were devastated when they found the flag and dog tracks from the Amundsen expedition. As Scott's team was returning to the coast, they experienced severe weather. Unfortunately, the combination of bad weather and a lack of supplies resulted in all of the men losing their lives before completing their return journey.
At the same time another expedition was competing with Roald Amundsen's team to be the first to reach the South Pole. This expedition was led by an English naval officer by the name of Robert Scott. Their expedition faced several problems along the way that both slowed them down and left them with fewer supplies. But eventually, he and the four other members arrived at the South Pole on January 17, 1912. They were devastated when they found the flag and dog tracks from the Amundsen expedition. As Scott's team was returning to the coast, they experienced severe weather. Unfortunately, the combination of bad weather and a lack of supplies resulted in all of the men losing their lives before completing their return journey.
The Antarctic Treaty System
Antarctica is the only continent where country borders do not exist. But prior to the creation of the first Antarctic treaty seven countries made territorial claims to Antarctica- Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. These claims, some of which overlap, resemble a pie that has been sliced with all claims starting at the geographic South Pole.
The future of Antarctica was the topic when twelve countries came together at the invitation of the United States of America for the Conference on Antarctic. After several months of hard work in Washington, D.C. the Antarctic Treaty was completed and signed on December 1, 1959. The twelve countries that signed the treaty were Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (now Russia), the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. The treaty took effect on June 23, 1961. It was followed by several other treaties that have come to be called the Antarctic Treaty System. The Antarctic Treaty is made up of a preamble and fourteen articles.
The First Six Articles of the Antarctic Treaty
Article 1 – Dedicates Antarctica to peaceful purposes only and restricts military activities that are not directly in support of scientific research
Article 2 – Provides for freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation
Article 3 – Contains provisions for the promotion of free exchange of information between expeditions and stations in Antarctica
Article 4 – The Antarctic Treaty does not recognize, dispute, or establish new territorial claims
Article 5 – The Antarctic Treaty bans all nuclear explosions and the dumping of radioactive waste
Article 6 – Specifies that the sea and land area covered by the Antarctic Treaty will apply to areas that lie at and below 60º South latitude
There are currently 53 countries that are part of the Antarctic Treaty. The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 and it is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The future of Antarctica was the topic when twelve countries came together at the invitation of the United States of America for the Conference on Antarctic. After several months of hard work in Washington, D.C. the Antarctic Treaty was completed and signed on December 1, 1959. The twelve countries that signed the treaty were Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (now Russia), the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. The treaty took effect on June 23, 1961. It was followed by several other treaties that have come to be called the Antarctic Treaty System. The Antarctic Treaty is made up of a preamble and fourteen articles.
The First Six Articles of the Antarctic Treaty
Article 1 – Dedicates Antarctica to peaceful purposes only and restricts military activities that are not directly in support of scientific research
Article 2 – Provides for freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation
Article 3 – Contains provisions for the promotion of free exchange of information between expeditions and stations in Antarctica
Article 4 – The Antarctic Treaty does not recognize, dispute, or establish new territorial claims
Article 5 – The Antarctic Treaty bans all nuclear explosions and the dumping of radioactive waste
Article 6 – Specifies that the sea and land area covered by the Antarctic Treaty will apply to areas that lie at and below 60º South latitude
There are currently 53 countries that are part of the Antarctic Treaty. The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 and it is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.