Antarctica


  • Type: Continent

Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands or an area of ocean. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century, but generally the area saw little human activity. Following World War II, however, there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support scientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961. - The World Factbook


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Antarctica
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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1840/01/25 Admiral Charles Wilkes Expedition Leader United States South Seas Exploring Expedition sights Antarctica. United States Exploring Expedition
1840/01/25 James L Blair Passed Midshipman United States South Seas Exploring Expedition sights Antarctica. United States Exploring Expedition
1911/12/16 In mid-December, Roald Amundsen and four Norwegian explores pitch a tent, designed by Dr Frederick Cook, as near to the pole as humanly possible with the instruments at their disposal and name it 'Polheim' or Norwegian for 'Home at the Pole'.
2002/04/13 January 31 and April 13, scientists monitoring satellite images of the Antarctic Peninsula watch as almost the entire Larsen B Ice Shelf, an area of 3,250 square km, or 1,250 square mi, splinters and collapses after 12,000 years of stability. Climate Change

Places

PlaceAsNotedInType
PlaceAsNotedInType
Adelie Land

Physiographic

PhysiographicTypeAsNotedIn
Bouvet Island Island

Geography »

Physiographic FeaturesTypeAsNotedIn
Mount Erebus
Transantarctic Mountains Mountain Range

Information »

Location

Continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle - The World Factbook

Data »

Particulars for Antarctica:
Locale Type Continent
Animal Penguin



Creative Works »

WorkTypeAsNotedInCreatorNote
At The Mountains of Madness (book) Book H P Lovecraft At the Mountains of Madness is set in Antarctica, September 1930
In Amundsen's Tent (Short Story) Short Story John Martin Leahy
The Thing Film John Carpenter Setting
Who Goes There? Book John W Campbell Setting

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