Travel Tips

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.

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