Even though Antarctica is almost one and half times larger than the United States and makes up a tenth of the world's land masses, Antarctica was not discovered until 1820. Suspecting that Antarctica might be a source of valuable natural resources, seven nations have made claims to parts of Antarctica. The boundary lines of the claims follow lines of longitude and meet at the south pole, thus dividing up the continent in pie slice-like parts. Some of the claimed areas overlap with each other, and a substantial portion of the continent remains altogether unclaimed.
There are no native inhabitants of Antarctica, and because of the harsh environmental conditions, the current inhabitants are made up almost exclusively of researchers and support staff for research facilities. Many of the research stations were established between 1957 and 1958 during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) during which there was substantial international scientific cooperation. In furtherance of the cooperative spirit exhibited among countries during IGY, the Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959.
The treaty defines Antarctica as the continental land mass and the ice shelves south of latitude 60 degrees, and excludes from its coverage the high seas. The Antarctic Treaty's first article declares that Antarctica is to be used for peaceful purposes only and that no activities of a military nature nor the testing of any weapons are to be conducted on the continent. The treaty provides that scientific freedom and cooperation is to be continued on Antarctica. The treaty also provides for the exchange of information regarding plans for scientific programs in Antarctica in order to permit maximum economy and efficiency of operations, the exchange of scientific personnel between expeditions and stations, and the exchange of scientific observations and results from research and experimentation on Antarctica. No radioactive materials are to be disposed of on Antarctica and no nuclear weapons are to be detonated. Observers from countries that have ratified the treaty are free to access and inspect any stations and equipment on Antarctica. The treaty provides that treaty nations are to meet from time to time to exchange information. The treaty cannot be modified except by unanimous agreement of all treaty nations. Finally, the treaty neither rejects nor acknowledges the existing territorial claims to the continent, but prohibits any further claims.
The Antarctic Treaty took effect in 1961 after being signed by the 12 countries then actively conducting research in Antarctica. Currently, there are 43 signatories to the treaty. Through the years, several additional treaties have been signed addressing specific concerns regarding Antarctica such as the native flora and fauna, Antarctic seals, mineral resources, and the protection of the environment of Antarctica. Together with the original Antarctic Treaty, the treaties are referred to as the Antarctic Treaty System.
Treaty nations that have demonstrated their interest in Antarctica by carrying out substantial scientific activity are classified as Consultative Parties, of which there are 26. Each year, the Consultative Parties conduct meetings to plan the management of the continent and to recommend modifications and additions to the treaty system.
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