Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/8.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 12KB | 210 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\antarc.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Antarctica"}



{1}Geography{4}

{2}Location:{4} continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 14 million sq km (est.)
{3}land area:{4} 14 million sq km (est.)
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
{3}note:{4} second-smallest continent (after Australia)

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km
{3}note:{4} see entry on International disputes

{2}Coastline:{4} 17,968 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4} none, but see entry on International disputes

{2}International disputes:{4} Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary below);
sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New
Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; the US and most other
nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims
themselves (the US reserves the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector
between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west

{2}Climate:{4} severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East
Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has
the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average
slightly below freezing

{2}Terrain:{4} about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations
between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to about 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal
areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and
parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the
coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
{3}lowest point:{4} Indian Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Vinson Massif 5,140 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum
and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial
quantities

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 0%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 0%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 0%
{3}other:{4} 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 0 sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects the Earth's
surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, had dwindled to the lowest level recorded over
Antarctica since 1975 when measurements were first taken

{2}natural hazards:{4} katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent
blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move
clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica;
other seismic activity rare and weak

{2}international agreements:{4} NA

{2}Geographic note:{4} the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent; during summer, more solar
radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent
period; mostly uninhabitable


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are seasonally staffed research stations
Summer (January) population: over 4,115 total; Argentina 207, Australia 268, Belgium 13, Brazil
80, Chile 256, China NA, Ecuador NA, Finland 11, France 78, Germany 32, Greenpeace 12, India
60, Italy 210, Japan 59, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264, Norway 23, Peru 39, Poland
NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK 116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666, former USSR 565
(1989-90)
Winter (July) population: over 1,046 total; Argentina 150, Australia 71, Brazil 12, Chile 73, China
NA, France 33, Germany 19, Greenpeace 5, India 1, Japan 38, South Korea 14, NZ 11, Poland
NA, South Africa 12, UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, former USSR 313 (1989-90)
Year-round stations: 42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 3, China 2, Finland 1, France
1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1,
US 3, former USSR 6 (1990-91)
Summer-only stations: over 38 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile 5, Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1,
Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US numerous, former
USSR 5 (1989-90); note - the disintegration of the former USSR has placed the status and future
of its Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations may be subject to closings at any time because of
ongoing economic difficulties


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} none
{3}conventional short form:{4} Antarctica

{2}Type of government:{4}
Antarctic Treaty Summary: The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into
force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica.
Administration is carried out through consultative member meetings - the 18th Antarctic Treaty
Consultative Meeting was in Japan in April 1993. Currently, there are 42 treaty member nations:
26 consultative and 16 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that
claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 19 nonclaimant
nations. The US and some other nations that have made no claims have reserved the right to do
so. The US does not recognize the claims of others. The year in parentheses indicates when an
acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates the country
was an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France,
New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983),
China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan,
South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), South Africa, Spain (1988),
Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), the US, and Russia. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of
accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), Canada (1988), Colombia (1988),
Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991),
Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia
(1993), Switzerland (1990), and Ukraine (1992).
Article 1: area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is
prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other
peaceful purpose
Article 2: freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue
Article 3: free exchange of information and personnel in cooperation with the UN and other
international agencies
Article 4: does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be
asserted while the treaty is in force
Article 5: prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes
Article 6: includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south
Article 7: treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and
may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and of the
introduction of military personnel must be given
Article 8: allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states
Article 9: frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations
Article 10: treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to
the treaty
Article 11: disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ
Articles 12, 13, 14: deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved
nations
Other agreements: more than 170 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and
ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and
Flora (1964); Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was
signed in 1988 but was subsequently rejected; in 1991 the Protocol on Environmental Protection
to the Antarctic Treaty was signed and awaits ratification; this agreement provides for the
protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes on marine pollution, fauna,
and flora, environmental impact assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it also
prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; 21 parties have
ratified Protocol as of April 1996

{2}Legal system:{4} US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as
murder, may apply to areas not under jurisdiction of other countries. Some US laws directly apply
to Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq.,
provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of
statute: The taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and
animals; entry into specially protected or scientific areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants;
and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the Antarctic
Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and 1 year in prison. The
Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement
responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires
expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar
Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to
other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information contact Permit Office,
Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230 [phone].


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and small-
scale tourism, both based abroad.


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Ports:{4} none; offshore anchorage

{2}Airports:{4} 50 landing facilities at different locations operated by 16 national governments party to
the Treaty; one additional air facility operated by commercial (nongovernmental) tourist
organization; helicopter pads at 25 of these locations; runways at 13 locations are gravel, sea ice,
glacier ice, or compacted snow surface suitable for wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved runways;
12 locations have snow-surface skiways limited to use by ski-equipped planes - 8
runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m,10 runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 3 runways/skiways
less than 1,000 m, and 4 of unspecified or variable length; airports generally subject to severe
restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do
not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or non-
governmental operating organization required for landing (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} NA

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} NA

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

{2}Radios:{4} NA

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} NA

{2}Televisions:{4} NA


{1}Defense{4}
Defense note: the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the
establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the
testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific
research or for any other peaceful purposes