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Antarctica in the 20th Century

Nations who focused efforts on whaling laid claim to major areas around the continent of Antarctica. On the Peninsula, three nations claims overlie each other. Making the Peninsula shared by Britain, Argentina, and Chile. Other countries, such as Norway,, New Zealand, and France have also claimed portions of the continent.

In 1940, Nazi Germany attempted to take Antarctica for its own, dropping stakes with the swastika emblazoned on them via fleets of planes. When the world became involved in a global war, and then moved on to the Cold War, the continent was pretty much abandoned by everyone except the whale hunters. However, due to celestial happenings at that time, science was ready turn it's attention to the The Ice in a really big way.

Between 1957 and 1958, sunspot activity hit a peak that drove both scientists and governments around the globe to descend upond Antarctica where they could use its unique view of the southern hole in the Earth's magnetic field to study the earth as it was bombarded by solar radiation from sunspot activity. In all, 67 countries sent scientists to set up research bases across Antarctica. Because all the countries got along so well, a new treaty called the Antarctic Treaty, was formed and marks an amazing feat in international law and agreements.

This Treaty, signed in 1959 by the countries with primary interests in the continent, enacted a mandate that Antarctica's only use would be for peaceful intentions. The treaty specifically spelled out not allowing any destructive forces to be detonated on the continent, including banning nuke testing and exploding, as well as not allowing countries to dump their toxic waste onto it's barren landscape or waters. While some military activities, they are strictly limited to the logistical support of scientific activities. The deliberation over land claims were put to rest for the time being.

This period marked an odd time in the Cold War where the superpowers both put aside their differences for the moment, staking no claims on Antarctica or recognizing any others as well. In one fell swoop, no country could stake any more claims to the continent.

It was in the 1960's and 1970's that governments and industry started to desiring the oil, gas, and minerals that were known to be in and around Antarctica. The number of national bases continues to grow, particularly on the Antarctica Peninsula and the islands that lay off its shore. The population on the continent reaches a maximum of around 5,000 during the summer months, and they pack the science stations that sprawl across this area.

Countries opening bases on King George Island from the 1960s to the 1980s include Poland, Chile, Argentina, Britain, Italy, the United States, the Soviet Union, China, South Korea, Brazil, Uruguay and Peru. True, most of these bases were established to conduct scientific experiments, but it was also a sign of political prowess for a lot of countries. In this, the countries basically became "squatters" on land that did not truly belong to them.

In the 80's, however, science became the much more prevalent purpose of expeditions coming to Antarctica. The Antarctic shares the destiny of the oceans, as more and more of them are being considered globally owned. The Halley Bay base in Antarctica, a British-run facility, showed us the first glimpses of the ozone layer depletion we were doing to the earth, increasing UV exposure exponentially.

So, in 1987, an international agreement was put into place to eradicate all ozone-destroying chemicals by the conclusion of the 1990's. This discovery validated the work of the science bases on the continent, who act as monitors of carbon emissions resulting in "greenhouse" effect. As the Greenpeace movement came into full swing in the 80's and whaling became reviled by countries worldwide, international bodies thought to ban the practice in the area. They thought to set Antarctica aside as a world-park.

Exploitation of the continent for oil and gas exploration and mining, and any other irreversible exploitation, was banned by the Antarctic Treaty in 1991, and nations agreed to observe this treaty for a minimum of fifty years. Environmental concern was elevated to the same priority as scientific research on the continent. Antarctica continues to play a major part in educating humankind about the damage it has inflicted on the planet and its atmosphere with its industrial activity, and how to avoid the catastrophic consequences of environment damage in the future.

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Life In Antarctica

A dazzling summer December day in Antarctica may see temperatures of as high as minus 25. Depending on the weather, a hurricane type wind could come sweeping across the glacier and freeze your eyelids shut if you were unfortunate enough to be out when it blows. A strong case can be made for the South Pole being the harshest location on the planet.

The permanent station located here, is likely one of the most isolated places a scientist can be, and operating this U.S. scientific outpost, is also one of the most essential jobs a scientist can have. There was a time when only specified workers and analysts were permitted at the Pole. But now, people with too much money to burn are getting small flights that will bring them to this barren landscape to view all of it's glory.

All that can really be seen is white. Within a thousand miles of the Pole there is not even a penguin. However, there are people who long to visit the Pole just to have this rare experience and be able to say that they were that and that they did that.

Many of the scientists and officials who live and work at the South Pole do not like the idea of the outpost being used as an attraction. This is particularly true when they have to deal with diesel bulldozers and cranes working to develop the place. But is doesn't stop visitors, as the do come frequently during research season. It can't really be helped, as no one can prevent them from doing so.

Protection and research of Antarctica was the aim of the treaty signed by 43 nations, although none of them, or any other country, has ownership of this frozen continent the size of Mexico and the U.S. put together. The United States has 3 research facilities that are open year round, even when the South Pole reaches the height of winter and it is pitch black. There is an unspoken law that gives aid to anyone who is foolhardy enough to make the trek to the Antarctic.

Visitors are not solicited since frequently they are not knowledgeable about the area and are not aware they are at 10,000 feet. Typically, when someone does visit that is not educated they will be cold, dehydrated, and have altitude sickness.

In 1975, the original thirty-three man complement of the dome began. Now, beds have doubled and tripled in number, now allowing hundreds of people to stay there. The place known as Summer Camp consists of an expanse of bunkhouses which were build from plywood, canvas and plastic.

Similar to many camps, there is no limit to the amount of water used at Summer Camp. Limited luxuries, like showers, flushing the toilet, even laundry come from melting ice using expensive $12 a gallon fuel. It's a long walk to the communal bathroom which can be slippery and bone chilling cold even though the sun is blazing at 3a.m.

The first women who came to Antarctica had to have military escorts. Today, however, women comprise fully one-third of the summer crew and are treated as equals. And in return, the Pole extracts its due from all equally.

It has been scientifically proven that extreme cold temperatures make it take three times longer to preform a simple task then it does in warmer temperatures. This is because in the cold the brain produces more hormones needed for physical activity while reducing those required for problem solving. Conditions deteriorate throughout the winter months.

Once February hits, most of the people have been evacuated. For the next half year, the station is manned by 28 brave souls. It stays night time until Spring in October, when the airplane and sun comes back.

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