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.

Rivalries exist between nations wishing to preserve Antarctica as a world park and those pursuing territorial claims.

Under the Antarctic Treaty, Antarctica can be used only for peaceful purposes. Any military personnel present perform purely scientific or logistic roles.

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.

Antarctica is one of the Earth's last great wildernesses. Its layer of ice, 4000 m (13,120 ft.) thick in places, has formed over thousands of years. Its ecosystem is such that a "footprint" will leave its mark for many years. Several species are unique to the continent, including king penguins. The blood of polar fish contains antifreeze agents. Ecological concerns include overfishing, particularly of krill, cod, and squid; the disintegration of ice shelves; the depletion of the ozone layer over Antarctica; and the various knock-on effects of global warming. In 1994 the IWC agreed to a French proposal to create an Antarctic whale sanctuary which, together with the Indian Ocean sanctuary, protects the feeding grounds of 90% of the world's whales.

Ships are the main mode of transportation to Antarctica. They are also used for marine research projects. Air traffic from Chile is growing, and France and the UK are building new airstrips. Most planes have to be equipped with skis.

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.

Each person in Antarctica is subject to their national laws. Occasional petty theft from stations is linked to visits from tourists.

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.

Tourism is mainly by cruise ship to the Antarctic Peninsula, the Ross Sea, and the sub-Antarctic islands. In 1983, the Chileans began flights to King George Island, where an 80-bed hotel has been built. Main attractions are the wildlife, skiing, and visits to scientific stations and historic huts. The growth of tourism has disrupted scientific programs and official regulation of tourism is now essential.

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.