Statistical information Antarctica 1993
Antarctica in the World
Antarctica - Introduction 1993
top of pageBackground: 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 Peninsula region and areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1838 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands. Various 'firsts' were achieved in the early 20th century including: 1902 first balloon flight (by British explorer Robert Falcon SCOTT); 1912 first to the South Pole (five Norwegian explorers under Roald AMUNDSEN); 1928 first fixed-wing aircraft flight (by Australian adventurer/explorer Sir Hubert WILKINS); 1929 first flight over the South Pole (by Americans Richard BYRD and Bernt BALCHEN); and 1935 first transantarctic flight (American Lincoln ELLSWORTH). Following World War II there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims but no other country recognizes 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.
Antarctica - Geography 1993
top of pageLocation: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
Geographic coordinates
Map reference: Antarctic Region
Area
Total: 14 million km² (est.)
Land: 14 million km² (est.)
Land boundaries: none, but see entry on International disputes
Coastline: 17,968 km
Maritime claims: none, but see entry on International Disputes
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 meters high; 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
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
Terrain
Elevation
Natural resources: none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities
Land use
Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
Irrigated land: 0 km²
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards
Geography
Antarctica - People 1993
top of pagePopulation: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are seasonally staffed research stations
Summer January population:
over 4,115 total; 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, NZ 264, Norway 23, Peru 39, Poland NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK 116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666, former USSR 565 (1989-90)
France 78, Germany 32, Greenpeace 12, India 60, Italy 210, Japan 59, South
Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264, Norway 23, Peru 39, Poland NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK 116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666, former USSR 565 (1989-90)
Winter July population:
over 1,046 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, former USSR 313 (1989-90)
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, former USSR 313 (1989-90)
Yearround stations:
42 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, former USSR 6 (1990-91)
NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US 3, former USSR 6 (1990-91)
Summer only stations:
over 38 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile 5,
Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1, South Africa 1,
Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations may be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing economic difficulties
Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1, South Africa 1,
Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations may be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing economic difficulties
Nationality
Ethnic groups
Languages
Religions
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
Population growth rate
Birth rate
Death rate
Net migration rate
Population distribution
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: 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 the lowest level ever recorded over Antarctica; active volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak
Current issues note: the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Life expectancy at birth
Total fertility rate
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures
Literacy
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Antarctica - Government 1993
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Antarctica
Government type
Capital
Administrative divisions
Dependent areas
Independence
National holiday
Constitution
Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under jurisdiction of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to Antarctica. For example, the
Antarctic Conservation Act 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq. provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities unless authorized by regulation of statute:
The taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected or scientific areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the Antarctic
Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic
Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5,801,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20,520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information contact
Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation,
Washington, DC 20,550
Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic
Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5,801,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20,520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information contact
Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation,
Washington, DC 20,550
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage
Executive branch
Legislative branch
Judicial branch
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation
Diplomatic representation
Flag description
National symbols
National anthem
National heritage
Antarctica - Economy 1993
top of pageEconomy overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.
Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita ppp
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products
Industries
Industrial production growth rate
Labor force
Labor force
Unemployment rate
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget
Public debt
Taxes and other revenues
Revenue
Fiscal year
Current account balance
Inflation rate consumer prices
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports
Imports
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates
Antarctica - Energy 1993
top of pageElectricity access
Electricity production
Electricity consumption
Electricity exports
Electricity imports
Electricity installed generating capacity
Electricity transmission distribution losses
Electricity generation sources
Petroleum
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Antarctica - Communication 1993
top of pageTelephones fixed lines
Telephones mobile cellular
Telephone system
Broadcast media
Internet country code
Internet users
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Antarctica - Military 1993
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Antarctica - Transportation 1993
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports: 42 landing facilities at different locations operated by 15 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 10 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--11 runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 3 runways/skiways less than 1,000 resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from governments required for landing
Airports with paved runways
Airports with unpaved runways
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
Antarctica - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international:
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 most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west, where, because of floating ice, Antarctica is unapproachable from the sea
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 most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west, where, because of floating ice, Antarctica is unapproachable from the sea
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs