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Antarctica is the largest desert in the world.Antarctica, fifth in size among the world’s continents. Its landmass is almost wholly covered by a vast ice sheet.

Antarctica Guide and Informations

Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, highest and driestcontinent on Earth.Admiral Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen was one of the first to spot the continent of Antarctica. The first land south of the parallel 60° south latitude was discovered by the Englishman William Smith, who sighted Livingston Island on 19 February 1819.Admiral Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen was one of the first to spot the continent of Antarctica. The first land south of the parallel 60° south latitude was discovered by the Englishman William Smith, who sighted Livingston Island on 19 February 1819.The people who travel to or live in Antarctica fall into two main groups, those wholive and work on scientific research stations or bases, and tourists. No-one lives inAntarctica indefinitely in the way that they do in the rest of the world. It has no commercial industries, no towns or cities, no permanent residentsAntarctica is important for science because of its profound effect on the Earth’s climate and ocean systems. Locked in its four kilometre-thick ice sheet is a uniquerecord of what our planet’s climate was like over the past one million years1820: In January, Russian Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen becomes the first person to see the Antarctic continent (January 27). 1820: In November, American Nathaniel Palmer, on the HERO, claims to see the Antarctic Peninsula. Palmer was a member of a sealing fleet from New EnglandAmong the original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty were the seven countries –ArgentinaAustraliaChileFranceNew ZealandNorway and the United Kingdom – with territorial claims to parts of Antarctica, some overlapping.

Who Owns Antarctica?

No country or nation is a recognized ‘owner’ of Antarctica but several nations do claim pie-shaped slices of the continent. Thanks to an international treaty signed in 1959, only one thing rules Antarctica – science. The treaty signed back then froze new territorial claims, banned military activity, weapons testing, and made Antarctica off-limits for nuclear testing. One thing the treaty did allow for was scientific research. 47 nations have ratified the treaty and any nation is free to do scientific research as long as they share their research with the rest of the world. Later amendments to the treaty sought to cover Antarctica’s natural resources.

Paradise Bay, Antarctica.

Lot of people asking us “do you need a Visa to visit Antarctica?”

In retrospect it’s a significant question, and instead of reply to innumerable e-mails on the topic weeklyconcerning how you’ll be able to do antarctica for reasonable or backpack to continent, we tend to thought a brand new post would assist you to grasp higher. 1st 2 things:

1. You don’t need a visa to go to antarctica

2. there’s no immigration or border management on entering antarctica.

Because no country owns Antarctica, no visa is required. However, the countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty’s Protocol on Environment Protectionrequire that visitors from those countries (including the USA, Canada, EU and Australia) need permission. This is nearly always through tour operators.

However to get to antarctica you’ll be in either: Chile, Argentina, south africa, Australia or New island (so please do check if you wish a visa for any of theseplaces!!).

Here is what you do need to visit continent: most of the tour teams that move to Antarctica can ask for the following, therefore have them prepared previous your trip:

1. a valid passport with six months to run (for registration and identification functions only)

2. Some kind of travel insurance that covers you for the period of your trip (I hate buying travel insurance butit’s essential for this trip)

3. Tell the tour company your people (in case of medical emergency)

4. Tell the tour company your next of kin (in case of medical emergency)

Antarctica International Airport

Is there any flight to Antarctica?
Yes – There are Fly-Cruise trips to Antarctica whereby you can take a flight to Frei Station (Chile) on King George Island in around two hours flying from Punta Arenas, Chile. The aircraft used are usually 70 passenger BAE 146-200.
How much does it cost to go to the Antarctic?
The average price that you will pay $3,500 USD. You can get better deals if you are flexible and share a triple cabin, these deals are typically in the $3,000 range. The most that you should pay for a last minute cruise to Antarctica is $4,000 USD.
Can I fly over the Antarctic?
Pan Am flight 50, using a Boeing 747SP, also flew over both poles. No scheduled commercial flights over fly the South Pole since there are no great circle routes in use which do so. Flights from New Zealand to South Africa would fly over Antarctica but no airline currently flies that route.
Can you live in Antarctica?
The people who travel to or live in Antarctica fall into two main groups, those wholive and work on scientific research stations or bases, and tourists. No-one lives inAntarctica indefinitely in the way that they do in the rest of the world. It has no commercial industries, no towns or cities, no permanent residents.
Are there any road in Antarctica?
It was constructed by leveling snow and filling in crevasses, but is not paved. Thereare flags to mark the route. Also, the United States Antarctic Program maintains two ice roads during the austral summer. … The ice road between Pegasus Field and McMurdo Station is about 14 miles.
What is the best time of year to go to Antarctica?
In January, temperatures at the Peninsula average 34 Fahrenheit. Penguins begin hatching and wildlife, especially penguin chicks, is most plentiful during this time of year. Mid-February and March: Late summer in Antarctica, February and early March, is the best time to spot whales.
How long does it take to get to the Antarctic?
By far the most common way to travel to Antarctica is on a special cruise ship. These trips vary, but are typically between 10 days and three weeks long. You can take various routes to the Peninsula depending on where you are departing from.
What is the closest country to Antarctica?
The closest country to Antarctica. South America, the point of which is shared byArgentina and Chile, is the closest continent to Antarctica. At the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, 1238 km south of Ushuaia (the southern-most city of Argentina) is the Argentinian station Vice Comodoro Marambio.
Which country has 6 months day and 6 months night?
In SvalbardNorway, the northernmost inhabited region of Europe, there is no sunset from approximately 19 April to 23 August. The extreme sites are the poles, where the sun can be continuously visible for half the year. The North Pole has midnight sun for 6 months from late March to late September.Because it is above tha Arctic circle, which is  a circle around the North Pole extending down to a latitude of about 23 degrees, which is equal to the tilt of Eart’s axis.Because of the tilt of the axis, any place North of the Arctic circle will have sunlight 24 hours a day for half the year, and darkness the rest of the year, or at least twilight.

Can I Get My Passport stamped in Antarctica?

Yes you can and there are many places you’ll be able to get this done, largely the bases, yet because the polein fact. My budget didn’t take me to the south pole, so I got my passport stamped in the Post office at Port Lockroy, Wiencke Island. It’s absolve to do therefore.
The Post Office/Souvenir shop at Port Lockroy in continent. In here you can get your passport stamped.

Do you get an exit stamp once going away Ushuaia, Argentina?

Oddly – NO you don’t. which I found strange. in fact i feel it’s one in all the only times I’ve ever left a rusticwithout having an exit stamp for one I received an entrance stamp for. I left Argentina illegally…That time I left Argentina without obtaining an exit stamp…on route to Antarctica!

Do you get an entrance stamp on your come back to Ushuaia, Argentina?

No – once more you don’t. i assume there may be an exception if you left Chile for continent and headed back to South America to Argentina. but I didn’t encounter anyone World Health Organization did this.

What currency do you need for Antarctica?

As a rule you must continuously carry United States dollars. you’ll use them on board the ship and at all museums and bars etc. in Antarctica. but Euros will be accepted in most places. At British people Base Port Lockroy, you’ll pay in British pounds. that I did as I had some on ME.Unsurprisingly Antarctica has no official currency, no official banks and in and of itself no official physical banknotes.

What Other Proof Can you get to say you went to Antarctica?

Our tour organised 2 certificates for us which make decent framed items:

1. A certificate to confirm I had stepped foot on Mainland Antarctica:

 

2. A certificate issued to swimmers only to confirm that we had swam in the water of Antarctica. If you read my naked dip story, you’ll know I was in the water!A certificate to prove I swam in Antarctic Waters (although the videos and photos would suffice!).A certificate to prove I stepped foot on Mainland Antarctica.

What Nationalities can you expect to meet on an Antarctica Trip?

On our trip there were people on board from the following countries:

United States of America, Argentina, Chile, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Philippines, Italy, Germany, France, Brazil, Poland.

Date Country Territory Claim limits Map
1908  United Kingdom  British Antarctic Territory 20°W to 80°W Antarctica, United Kingdom territorial claim.svg
1923  New Zealand New Zealand Ross Dependency 150°W to 160°E Antarctica, New Zealand territorial claim.svg
1924  France French Southern and Antarctic Lands Adélie Land 142°2′E to 136°11′E Antarctica, France territorial claim.svg
1929  Norway Norway Peter I Island 68°50′S 90°35′W Antarctica, Norway territorial claim (Peter I Island).svg
1933  Australia Australia Australian Antarctic Territory 160°E to 142°2′E and
136°11′E to 44°38′E
Antarctica, Australia territorial claim.svg
1939  Norway Norway Queen Maud Land 44°38′E to 20°W Antarctica, Norway territorial claim (Queen Maud Land, 2015).svg
1940  Chile Antártica Chilena Province Chilean Antarctic Territory 53°W to 90°W Antarctica, Chile territorial claim.svg
1943  Argentina  Argentine Antarctica 25°W to 74°W Antarctica, Argentina territorial claim.svg
(none) Unclaimed territory
(Marie Byrd Land)
90°W to 150°W
(except Peter I Island)
Antarctica, unclaimed.svg

The Argentine, British and Chilean claims all overlap, and have caused friction. On 18 December 2012, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office named a previously unnamed area Queen Elizabeth Land in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. On 22 December 2012, the UK ambassador to Argentina, John Freeman, was summoned to the Argentine government as protest against the claim.Argentine–UK relations had previously been damaged throughout 2012 due to disputes over the sovereignty of the nearby Falkland Islands, and the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War.

The areas shown as Australia’s and New Zealand’s claims were British territory until they were handed over following the countries’ independence. Australia currently claims the largest area. The claims of Britain, Australia, New Zealand, France and Norway are all recognised by each other.

Other countries participating as members of the Antarctic Treaty have a territorial interest in Antarctica, but the provisions of the Treaty do not allow them to make their claims while it is in force.

  •  Brazil has a designated “zone of interest” that is not an actual claim.
  •  Peru has formally reserved its right to make a claim.
  •  Russia has inherited the Soviet Union’s right to claim territory under the original Antarctic Treaty.
  •  South Africa has formally reserved its right to make a claim.
  •  United States reserved its right to make a claim in the original Antarctic Treaty.

 

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