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The total continent of Antarctica, from its massive mountains to the seas replete with blue whales, emperor penguins and leopard seals, is, by means of international agreement, classified as a wilderness preserve.This accord took effect in 1998, and prohibits mining and oil drilling for at least fifty years anywhere within the boundaries of the world’s most frigid and pristine ecosystem. The pact stresses conservation in place of growth and development.The agreement forbids a number or possible threats to wildlife including pesticides and non-native animals.

The accord is called the Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctica Treaty.Many countries signed this accord in order to protect this one region on earth from commercial interests and development by industry.The treaty was approved in 1991 by 26 leading nations including the United States, Russia, China, India, Japan, Argentina, Brazil and most major European countries who had interests in the area.To find great antarctica tours information see this resource.

By delineating regulation, the treaty served to end more than fifteen years of lobbying by environmentalists and diplomatic discussions.In addition to the restriction of oil and mining, the treaty also requires nations that run any of Antarctica’s 35 scientific outposts to remove all trash.Antarctic waters are also protected from scientific stations and tourist ships dumping raw sewage into them.

Explorers such as the Norwegian Roald Amundsen, the first to reach the South Pole in 1911, depended upon sled dogs for their transportation.But the treaty bans dogs completely because in recent years, dogs have killed Penguins amongst other native birds.Also banned were pesticides, polystyrene packaging and non-sterile soil.

There is a sheet of ice covering the land that averages approximately one mile in thickness. The land is only seen near the shores where some plant life survive, like moss and grass.Seventy per cent of the planet’s fresh water comprises Antarctica’s ice.Many kinds of sea life also live in or near Antarctica.If you want more comprehensive info on adventure antarctica tours that site will help you.

This amazing continent is considered one of the most fragile places on the planet.Since the temperature is almost always below zero, it takes a long time for anything to grow.It can take years for the area to recover from any disturbances.For instance, the single impression of a foot in a mossy outcropping may be preserved for ten years.

In 1959 the first Antarctic Treaty was signed and it banned military activity and nuclear testing.It also kept any one nation from owning all of Antarctica and gave rules for research.Even though there is no nation that claims ownership of the continent, every inch is claimed by overlapping countries.

Conservation laws were put into place in the 1980s when researchers found oil reserves offshore and deposits of coal, gold, iron, copper, zinc, uranium, manganese and other minerals.The ideas of drilling in Antarctica got tossed around in the 1970s when the energy crisis took place.Increases in the price of oil and advances in technology will intensify these interests.

Each of the 26 nations that uphold the treaty have their own jurisdictions.If the country’s government refuses to intervene when its citizens violate the rules, the other nations would apply pressure to solve the issue.This agreement has been considered a success story for the environment by a lot of people.

Throughout Antarctica, nations with economies that were dependent on whaling claimed ownership of large parts of the continent.The peninsula of Antarctica is a place where Britain, Argentina, and Chile all find themselves vying for stretches of land.Other countries that have claims to this area include France, New Zealand, Norway and Australia.

In 1940, Nazi Germany claimed their own piece of the pie by dropping swastika-etched stakes from planes across huge pieces of Antarctica, when nationalism was in full swing. Antarctica was essentially forgotten during the time when World War II was raging, and even as the Cold War was established. The only interest came from the whaling nations.However, due to celestial happenings at that time, science was ready turn it’s attention to the The Ice in a really big way.

The celestial event was the peak of sunspot activity in 1957-1958. This International Geophysical Year is marked by increased interest by scientist and governments around the globe exploring Antarctica because of its one of a kind view of the southern hole in the Earth’s magnetic field. The wanted to be able to see how the barrage of solar radiation affected the continent.As a matter of fact, there were 67 countries represented in various bases around 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.cruise travel to antarctica

This treaty was signed in 1959 by all the countries with major interests in Antarctica. It was an agreement that made this continent to be used solely for peaceful purposes.The treaty specifically spelled out not allowing any destructive forces to be detonated on the continent, including banning nuke testing and exploding, as well as not allowing countries to dump their toxic waste onto it’s barren landscape or waters.The only military activities allowed were in support of the scientific projects.The issues surrounding territorial claims were put to rest.

This was a unusual example of cooperation during the Cold War, as all of the superpowers made no assertions of claims, and did not acknowledge any from their allies, other than to reserve their right to restate them in the futureThis clever maneuver also stopped all of the smaller countries from asserting any claims to territory as well.trips to antarctica

During the 60’s and the decade following in the 70’s, many countries thought there was a lot of natural gas, oil deposits and mineral deposits in Antarctica.Countries established bases in and around the continent along with dozens of science stations in the area.

Bases were opened on King George Island throughout the 1960s and 70s by Chile, Great Britain, Poland, Italy, Argentina, the United States and Soviet Union, with Peru, Brazil, China, Uruguay, and South Korea joining them in the 1980s.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.Essentially, they claimed territories as their own.

Political motivation for inhabiting Antarctica began to evolve away from resource exploitation to that of scientific exploration by the 1980’s.So now the Antarctic joins with the oceans in being defined as communal property belonging to the entire world.It was Britain’s Halley Bay Antarctic base that discovered the hole in the ozone layer around the earth, leading to the realization industrial pollution was deteriorating the atmosphere and allowing ultraviolet radiation in.

This discovery led to the 1987 internation agreement to eliminate ozone-destroying chemicals by the turn of the century.This discovery also highlighted the value of the Antarctic science bases to the entire world, and it is from here that the effect of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere is measured and watched.People began protesting the killing of whales in the 1980s, while the worldwide Green movement proposed the idea of turning Antarctic into a world park.

The same countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty, decided to disallow the removal of natural resources such as gas and oil from Antarctica for the next 50 years, and possibly longer. They also decided to make environmental issues equal to scientific issues.Antarctica is important today as it was during it’s hey-day because instead of being exploited and ruined in the name of wealth and greed, it’s teaching us how those very things that marked progress are creating a very unstable world. Hopefully, through the studies conducted we will be able to learn how to reverse some of those issues and challenges we will face in the future.

The continent of Antarctica is a place like no other in the world with its stark beauty and brutal climate and terrain.It remains the only continent in the world that has never seen the face of war.This is true even though it is the biggest continent on Earth, larger than Europe and America put together. Due to the extreme cold of this continent almost no germs can survive in this land, causing more people have died of violent causes than natural ones

This continent is quite the oxymoron, the most different of faiths and political stances cam come here and work closely together only inches away from freezing sub 100-degree weather.Since the horrendous cold of Antarctica makes their bodies lose calories at an alarming rate, those living in Antarctica are forced to eat four generous meals a day just to keep up.

Since the sun hardly ever sets in the summer, residents often suffer excruciating insomnia, as the lack of nighttime leaves them unable to sleep while the sun is shining bright at 3 in the morning.In spite of this, the Antarctica based ‘300 Degree Club’ has given rise to great entertainment.A bar the furthest south of the border exists in Antarctica, no matter what you buy it all costs the same, even if it is an expensive cognac. But a single night can lead to a massive bill.This is especially true between the months of April and September when the nights are very long.antarctica cruise ship

The heartland of this continent is covered by a 9,000-foot sheet of moving ice. However, geologists believe that it also has enough gas, oil, and coal in it to heath the entire planet.There are no laws in this land and no fugitive can be extradited. Plus, any criminal has almost 9-million square miles of place to hide, if they could survive them. These hiding spaces include the wide open spaces, broad valleys, and 15,000-foot mountain ranges that make up one of the unfriendly environments on the face of the Earth.

Even though Antarctica is not governed by any laws, it still has a lower crime rate than any other continent. If you wanted to commit a murder, you would do it in Antarctica, because you could never be prosecuted for it due to the lack of laws there.No international laws or treaties are in place to stop a murderer, anywhere on this vast land.adventure antarctica cruises

Even though there are flags of 10 different nation here in Antarctica, not a single one has tried to exploit it’s real estate.There has never been any attempts to form permanent colonies on the primitive lands of this continent. However, when compared to any other location in the world, the most complicated and technology advanced equipment is located here. There are even computers at the South Pole.

It may be surprising to know that the people who live here, although usually only for a short period, are known to have the highest IQ per capita on the planet.There are more people here with degrees from high level universities than there are high school diplomas.There is more research preformed here than in any other geographical location. If you want to find scientific talent, you will find more here than at any university in the world.Also, this large land mass is the only one who you are not allowed to detonate nuclear bombs.

The laws that Antarctica does have are incredibly strict environmental laws.Whalers and sealers now need a special license to kill any animal life on the continent.The worlds best scientists are fighting to keep this astonishing continent as pristine as it has ever been.

A hundred years ago or so, a whaling ship known as the Antarctic came to a halt off the volcanic, wind-battered coast and sent one of their longboats through the through the rough ocean of the Ross Sea to reach the shore.The land was found as part of a journey to unclaimed waters for the purpose of killing whales. Captain Leonard Kristensen and his party were the first people to place their feet on this continent.

The baptism of Antarctica was bathed in blood.The Industrial Revolution was starting to grow and the millions of seals that were slaughtered for their fur, as well as penguins and whales massacred for their oil, were part of what was needed to keep society moving forward.Many thousands of the shy penguins on Macquarie Island were gathered and driven up planks into large kettles of boiling oil, where they were cooked and melted down for the oil in their bodies.

It is only now, after centuries of abuse of Antarctica’s resources, that this Frozen Continent is being appreciated for it’s natural and scientific wonders. Humans have made the decision to forgo the easy money made through destruction of Antarctica’s resources, and instead chosen to treat it as a preserve of nature and science.There are discussions currently underway to establish Antarctica as a world park.Within Antarctica, scientists are more able to explore certain environmental factors such as the Greenhouse Effect and the depletion of our ozone layer.Considering the short and experimental nature of mankind’s occupancy in Antarctica, the reversal has been astoundingly quick.The degree of exploration was limited to a small fraction of coastline and islands, and included only a few routes to the South Pole up until the 1957-1958 International Geophysical Year.antarctic cruise

From the time that Antarctica was first explored, its history is littered with fierceness, nationalism, idealism, and uncontrolled killing. Only occasionally would there be any attempts at scientific research.Whaling was stepped up in World War I, as refined oil was used to make glycerin for artillery shells.Whale oil continued to be a commodity after World War II, as the Soviet Union and the United States began to require more of the substance for use as a jet engine lubricant.It was not until the International Geophysical Year that Antarctica was referred to as anything but “Terra Australia Incognita,” a term used by medieval mapmakers to describe this undiscovered southern continent.

The first birth in Antarctic was witness to great controversy and nationalistic pretension and was entirely purposeful.In 1978, Emilio Marcus Palmer was born at Esperanza Base, owned by Argentina in order to reinforce claims by Argentina to large portions of the territory.best antarctic cruise

This occurred nine years after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon and placed America’s flag on it as a symbol of America’s dominance over other nations.In 1911, Roald Amundsen’s trek to the South Pole, honoring King Haakon VII of Norway, was the most productive, determined venture of this sort.Although Robert F. Scott and his team also made that trip for the British, they spent a great deal more time on their voyage so that they could collect rock and fossil samples – the weight of which only slowed them down further.

Scott’s team perished as they returned home, having lost the race to the South Pole to Amundsen by one month. They were possibly demoralized by simply not getting there first, but were also likely malnourished and exhausted. These were the first men to martyr themselves for science in Antarctica.A rather unique attempt to stake America’s claim on the territory took place when a Ford Trimotor was flown over the South Pole by Richard Bryd in 1929.It was back in 1821 that the Soviets laid claim to the Antarctica with the journey made by Russian Admiral Thaddeus Bellingshausen past the Antarctic Peninsula.

Dallas, USA and the South Pole have something in common – they both will probably have 100 degree temperatures in July.Granted, at the South Pole the 100 degrees is below zero.This means you could freeze your skin off in mere seconds.

Even with these conditions, twenty-eight people commit six months to living at the South Pole. They have to deal with no sunlight, very little contact with the world, and no way to escape.This team works to maintain the U.S. polar base and to control the telescopes and other scientific devices located at the research station.Advancements in technology and communications are changing their work.

Recently, North American astronomers used satellite communications to be able to control the telescope at the South Pole’s observatory.This was the first time a South Pole telescope was controlled from a warmer continent.The hope is that astronomers will someday be able to use the telescope from the comfort of the warm, comfortable, regular office.antarctica tours

People on Antarctica have to deal with the coldest, driest, and windiest environments on Earth.There is not other continent that has elevations like Antarctica, so the crew also has to deal with limited oxygen.As a result, little else survives in that climate, save for animals and plants that have already adapted to the cold.

Those who accept the risk of working during the Antarctic winter are called “winter-overs.”They will have a vast library, small exercise room, computers, pool table and excellent food to enjoy.Normally, winter-overs do not speak much about what occurs during their winter months of isolation at the South Pole, from February to October.antarctic tours

One challenge faced by this crew is that the research program at the South Pole has continually grown and the research station is facing a great challenge in having a steady and consistent electrical supply.There are only three oil-burning generators to power the computers, lights, telescopes, lasers, and other electrical powered devices.This means that winter-overs have to deal with insufficient power, in addition to cramped quarters and cold buildings.

They often turn to traditions to help pass the time.One is the “300 Club”, which requires a day when the outside temperature will be at least 100 degrees below zero.The members heat the sauna up to 200 degrees.Then the winter-overs in the “300 Club” race out into the minus 100 degree temperatures and then back inside.

The also look forward to the airdrop.Every June, a U.S. Air National Guard military transport plane will fly over the South Pole to drop deliver pallets of food, mail and other supplies.The winter-overs quickly go outside, utilize heavy equipment, and bring the supplies inside.That single airdrop is the most contact with another person these people get in six months of occupation.

They do not get to look forward to seeing a tree or even going more than a mile from the pole.They look forward to the one week of vacation they get at McMurdo Station, a U.S. Antarctic base.They take advantage of this time to camp out in lovely 25-degree weather, bake in the sun on the beach, and relax in t-shirts and jeans.