Whaling nations laid claim to massive territories across the continent of Antarctica. On the Peninsula itself the countries of Argentina, Great Britain, and Chile have intersecting claims. There are also claims from, New Zealand, France, and Norway.
The highest point of nationalism hit this continent in 1940. It occurred when Nazi Germany dropped swastika-engraved stakes over large areas of Antarctica to claim it for the Third Reich. Antarctica sat largely unnoticed as the global war raged, followed by the Cold War, and only the whalers, continuing their predatory ways, ventured to this icy continent. The occurrence of celestial phenomena precipitated renewed interest in the continent, this time by scientists.
1957-58 saw sunspot activity heading toward a peak, and that's when the governments and scientist from around the world got ready for the International Geophysical Year, choosing Antarctica for their study of solar radiation on earth's magnetic field that could be viewed through a southern hole there. 67 nations sent scientists to Antarctica to study this phenomenon. The scientists worked so well together, that they were able to pave the way for the Antarctic Treaty, which turned out to be an amazing accord.
The primary countries with the most invested in Antarctica signed it in 1959, making interaction on the continent purely scientific. This treaty protects the land physically by banning nuclear testing or explosions, as well as any dumping of radioactive waste. The only permissible activity of the military here, was to help in the coordination of scientific exploration. Previous land claims were not addressed as a part of this treaty.
This was a unusual example of cooperation during the Cold War, as all of the superpowers made no assertions of claims, and did not acknowledge any from their allies, other than to reserve their right to restate them in the future The smaller countries became reluctant to pursue their claims in light of the maneuvering practiced by the more powerful countries.
In the decades that followed, nations and business organizations started to desire the natural resources thought to be in Antarctica. The number of national bases multiplied to great numbers and the population increased to its highest point of 5,000 people during the summer. Most of the bases were on the peninsula and area islands. The people lived mainly in the urban areas around the dozens of science stations located here.
It was during the 1960's and 1970's that Poland, Chile, Argentina, Britain, Italy, the United States, and the Soviet Union began setting up bases on King George Island. It was not until the1980's that china, South Korea, Brazil, Uruguay, and Peru officially started their bases. These bases were technically engaged in scientific experiments and studies, but they also served to mark claims on territory. They effectively gave themselves "squatter's rights" on behalf of their country.
However, by the 1980's, exploitation began to give way to true science. In a manner similar to declaring the oceans international territory, the Antarctic has become a shared continent. It was Britain's Halley Bay Antarctic base that discovered the hole in the ozone layer around the earth, leading to the realization industrial pollution was deteriorating the atmosphere and allowing ultraviolet radiation in.
It was this discovery that precipitated the passage of an international agreement to prohibit the use of chemicals that destroy the ozone by the late 1990's. With this revelation, science bases in Antarctica were suddenly much more valuable, as their ability to accurately monitor carbon emissions and the greenhouse effect were amazing. The whaling industry was also encountering massive public outrage in the 1980's, leading to the idea of establishing Antarctica as a world park, and thereby protecting it further.
It was in 1991 that the Antarctic Treaty nations decided to ban any oil and gas exploration, as well as any mining or other irreversible mistreatment of Antarctica for at least 50 years. In addition to this, they increased the concern for the environment to the same level as science. Now, Antarctica has a unique duty and place in the world, for it's the one place where we can most accurately measure just how much damage we've done to the environment, and study how to stop it.
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