1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
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
Coastline
17,968 km
Comparative area
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US; second-smallest continent (after Australia)
Disputes
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 Russia do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (but reserve the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90. west and 150. west, where, because of floating ice, Antarctica is unapproachable from the sea
Environment
mostly uninhabitable; katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; a circumpolar ocean current flows clockwise along the coast as do cyclonic storms that form over the ocean; during summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, had dwindled to its lowest level ever over Antarctica; active volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak
Land area
about 14,000,000 km2
Land boundaries
none, but see entry on Disputes
Land use
no arable land and no plant growth; ice 98%, barren rock 2%
Maritime claims
none, but see entry on Disputes
Natural resources
none presently exploited; iron, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum, and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities
Note
the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent
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 4,897 meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and 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
Total area
14,000,000 km2 (est.)
People and Society
Population
no indigenous inhabitants; staffing of research stations varies seasonally
Summer (January) population
4,115; 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, New Zealand 264, Norway 23, Peru 39, Poland NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK 116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666, Russia 565 (1989-90)
Summer only stations
over 40; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile 5, Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 4, New Zealand 2, Norway 1, Peru 1, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US numerous, Russia 5 (1989-90); note - the disintegration of the former Soviet Union 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.
Winter (July) population
1,066 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, Russia 313 (1989-90)
Year-round stations
43 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, Russia 6 (1990-91)
Government
Antarctic Treaty Summary
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 purposes
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
Article 12, 13, 14
deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations
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. 00' 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
Long-form name
none
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
Economy
Overview
No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.
Communications
Airports
41 airport facilities at different locations operated by 14 national governments party to the Treaty; one additional air facility operated by commercial (nongovernmental) tourist organization; helicopter pads at 28 of these locations; runways at 9 locations are gravel, sea ice, glacier ice, or compacted snow surface suitable for wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved runways; 16 locations have snow-surface skiways limited to use by ski-equipped planes - 9 runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 4 runways/skiways less than 1,000 m, 5 runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m, and 7 of unspecified or variable length; airports generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only at most coastal stations
Military and Security
Note
none; Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty states that advance notice of all military activities and the introduction of military personnel must be given