Whaling nations laid claim to massive territories across the continent of Antarctica.On the Peninsula itself the countries of Argentina, Great Britain, and Chile have intersecting claims.Claims have also been made by Australia, Norway, New Zealand, and France.
The highest point of nationalism hit this continent in 1940. It occurred when Nazi Germany dropped swastika-engraved stakes over large areas of Antarctica to claim it for the Third Reich.Antarctica sat largely unnoticed as the global war raged, followed by the Cold War, and only the whalers, continuing their predatory ways, ventured to this icy continent.However, celestial events occurred that allowed science to come back to Antarctica for a long time.
It was the Geophysical Year of 1957-58 that spurred scientists and world governments to converge on the continent of Antarctica, as it’s unique vantage point of the southern hole in the Earth’s magnetic field, allowed them to conduct research of the amplified solar radiation reaching the earth due to extremely high sunspot activity.The scientific brain power from sixty-seven countries established bases for their operations on the continent.Thanks to the high level of teamwork and cooperation among these visitors, negotiations soon began, which culminated in the Antarctic Treaty, an amazing international agreement still marveled at today.travel to antarctica
In 1959, this treaty was ratified by nations that had specific investments in Antarctica. It made it so the Antarctica could only be used for positive ventures.Nuclear testing/explosions were banned as well as any radioactive waste being dumped there.The only reason military activities were to be allowed on the continent was in the logistic support of science.Any territorial claims that caused conflicts between countries were just ‘put on a shelf’ and labeled as an issue.
Although the Cold War wasn’t widely known as a time of cooperation, the superpowers dropped all claims, and ignored those of their ally nations, but made known their belief that their claim would still be valid at some future time.The smaller countries became reluctant to pursue their claims in light of the maneuvering practiced by the more powerful countries.antarctica trip
It was in the 1960′s and 1970′s that governments and industry started to desiring the oil, gas, and minerals that were known to be in and around Antarctica.Soon, there were national bases all over the surrounding islands and the peninsula; at its most prolific, Antarctica is home to 5,000 people – only in the summer, and only in the science stations that are based all around the peninsula and islands.
By the end of the 1970s, bases from the US, Soviet Union, Britain, Italy and others propped up on King George Island, followed by more bases from China and South Korea in the 80′s, among others.True, most of these bases were established to conduct scientific experiments, but it was also a sign of political prowess for a lot of countries.These bases essentially served as notices of the “squatting rights” of these nations.
But science has already begun to take hold in the 1980′s, and exploitation of the environment was out, and science was in.Antarctica is in the process of becoming the jointly-owned property of the entire planet, similar to the political definitions of ocean ownership.Discovered by Britain’s Halley Bay Antarctic base, the hole in the ozone layer is proof that the atmosphere does incur damage, in the form of cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation, from industrial activity.
This discovery brought about the 1987 international agreement to phase out any use of chemicals that were destroying the ozone layer by the year 2000.The international value of these scientific bases on Antarctica was emphasized by this discovery, and the current monitoring of greenhouse emissions and their effects on the planet since it became industrialized can also be attributed to this work.The whaling industry was also encountering massive public outrage in the 1980′s, leading to the idea of establishing Antarctica as a world park, and thereby protecting it further.
In 1991, that dream became a reality when the nations who created the Antarctic Treaty voted to ban all exploration of natural resources for a period for 50 years so that the natural environment could grow and thrive and scientific research could flourish.This same country that once helped to move the Industrial Revolution through whaling is now helping man learn how to better take care of the planet and its resources.
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