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17,968 km

      Maritime claims:

       Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

       rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their

       continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are

       not accepted by other countries; 20 of 27 Antarctic consultative

       nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia

       and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize

       the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes -

       international entry

      Climate:

       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

      Terrain:

       about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with

       average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges

       up to nearly 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

      Elevation extremes:

       lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench −2,555 m

       highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m

       note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the

       Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet

       discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater

      Natural resources:

       iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other

       minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small

       uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish,

       and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries

      Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2001)

      Irrigated land:

       0 sq km

      Natural hazards:

       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; large icebergs may

       calve from ice shelf

      Environment - current issues:

       in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole

       was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers;

       researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming

       through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish

       lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm

       one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of

       ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming

      Geography - note:

       the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), 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

      People Antarctica

      Population: no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent and summer-only staffed research stations note: 26 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate seasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard research are present in the waters of the treaty region; summer (January) population - 3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11, France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia 254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378 (1998–99); winter (July) population - 964 total; Argentina 165, Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102, South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998–99); research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60 degrees south) by members of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP): year-round stations - 37 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (2004); summer-only stations - 36 total; Argentina 8, Australia 2, Bulgaria 1, Chile 5, Ecuador 1, Finland 1, Germany 1, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 3, Norway 2, Peru 1, Russia 2, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 2, UK 1, Italy and France jointly 1 (2003–2004); in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research

      Government Antarctica

      Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica

      Government type: 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; the 26th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Madrid, Spain in June 2003; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2003, there were 45 treaty member nations: 27 consultative and 18 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was accepted as a consultative member, 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), Bulgaria (1998) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), Ukraine (1992), and Venezuela (1999); Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such

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