The world's fifth-largest continent, Antarctica is almost entirely covered by ice over 2000 m (6560 ft.) thick. The area sustains a varied wildlife, including seals, whales, and penguins. The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 and in force in 1961, provides for international governance of Antarctica. To gain Consultative Status, countries have to set up a program of scientific research on the continent. Following a 1994 international agreement, a whale sanctuary was established around Antarctica.

Antarctica has no indigenous population. Around 80 Chilean settlers live at any one time in the continent's only permanent community on King George Island. The rest of the population are scientists and logistical staff working at the 40 permanent, and as many as 100 temporary, research stations. Most stations are too far apart for direct contact between different nationalities.

Research is government-funded and is therefore subject to reductions. The exploitation of marine stocks provides no income for Antarctica.

There are 27 parties to the Antarctic Treaty and 17 nations with observer status. There are territorial claims by Australia, France, New Zealand, and Norway, and overlapping claims in the Antarctic Peninsula by Argentina, Chile, and the UK. Other states do not recognize these claims.

Of main concern is the adoption of a wide range of environmental protection measures. Proposals include the monitoring of all scientific activities and also the prosecution of any country if it were demonstrated that its research would lead to detrimental global change.

Antarctica's main resources are its marine stocks, including fin fish, seals, and whales. A campaign by environmental groups, supported by Australia and France, to ban mining and declare Antarctica a world park was rewarded with an agreement in 1991 to impose a 50-year ban on mining, and in 1994 by the approval of a whale sanctuary. Prospects for energy sources alternative to fossil fuels, such as solar power and wind generators, are being explored.

Each station has its own medical officer. The problems usually associated with polar conditions, such as frostbite and snow blindness, are very rare. All personnel are medically screened before arrival. If serious illnesses develop, patients have to be evacuated by air, including in recent years an acute case of gallstones and a doctor who self-diagnosed breast cancer.

Schoolhouses exist on the Chilean base, Villa Las Estrellas, and the Argentinian base, Esperanza. Teaching is geared to the relevant national system. Some researchers' studies contribute to higher degrees.

Antarctic-based research has resulted in a number of scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of the depletion of the ozone layer.

Any evidence of wealth disparities reflects the different levels of base funding. US bases are the best-funded, while the budgets of other bases are subject to domestic politics. Most stations have TVs and video recorders. Telephone systems operate only within stations. Computers are supplied for scientific research.

The Russian explorer, Thaddeus von Bellingshausen, was the first to sight Antarctica, in 1820. The South Pole was first reached by the Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, in December 1911.

• 1957–1958 International Geophysical Year launches scientific exploration of Antarctica.
• 1959 Antarctic Treaty signed by 12 countries. Territorial claims frozen.
• 1978 Convention limiting seal hunting comes into force.
• 1985 Ozone depletion disclosed.
• 1994 Establishment of Antarctic whale sanctuary.
• 1998 Agreement on 50-year ban on mineral extraction comes into force.