In 1940, the Nazis in Germany ordered airplanes to send stakes emblazoned with swastikas down to the land in order to claim it on behalf of 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.However, celestial events occurred that allowed science to come back to Antarctica for a long time.

Sunspot movement became prevalent in the years 1957 and 1958, so nations all across the globe began getting ready for the International Geophysical Year. Antarctica became a focal point due to its one-of-a-kind visibility of a clear spot in the magnetic field of the Earth in which they could examine it while it was being assaulted by solar radiation.Scientists representing 67 different countries arrived to encircle the continent and establish their bases.The cooperation between the scientists and countries sparked the negotiations for the Antarctic Treaty, which is one of the most extraordinary International agreements ever made.exciting travel to antarctica

This treaty was signed in 1959 by all the countries with major interests in Antarctica. It was an agreement that made this continent to be used solely for peaceful purposes.The treaty specifically spelled out not allowing any destructive forces to be detonated on the continent, including banning nuke testing and exploding, as well as not allowing countries to dump their toxic waste onto it’s barren landscape or waters.All military activity was limited to that of scientific support.There would be no further talk of territorial claim staking.

The superpowers of this era did not step forward to assert claims or otherwise interfere, although they did reservce the right to make claims in the future.This clever maneuver also stopped all of the smaller countries from asserting any claims to territory as well.antarctica vacation

By the 1960s, the minerals and oil that was believed to be in the Antarctic region became highly sought after.There was a flurry of national bases erected, mainly on the peninsula and surrounding islands. Antarctica’s summer population of approximately 5,000, largely due to the fact that it’s only a three day cruise, dozens of science posts are home to most of these visitors.

In the 60’s countries like Poland, the then Soviet Union, the United States, Italy, Great Britain, Argentina and Chile launched their own individual bases on King George Island. That was followed with new base openings in the 80’s by China, Peru, South Korea, and other Southern American countries.True, most of these bases were established to conduct scientific experiments, but it was also a sign of political prowess for a lot of countries.The essentially served their countries by creating “squatters rights” in Antarctica.

Things began to change in the late 80’s though. More people became aware of the exploitation of the area and tried to preserve what was left.The oceans have long been recognized as belonging to the world rather than any one country, and Antarctica is becoming the same way.At this time, a hole in the Earth’s atmosphere was discovered. British scientists at the Halley Bay Antarctic base found that due to the industrial advances most super powers had made caused a hole in the Earth’s atmosphere which allowed harmful UV rays in.

This discovery began the discussions for an international agreement in 1987 that would ban the use of ozone-depleting chemicals from being used by the end of the 1990’sWith 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.Anti-whaling sentiment reached a climax during the 1980’s, and global movements for a Green planet supported preserving the continent of Antarctica as a world park.

By 1991 Antarctica received protection from ravaging of it’s natural resources with the Antarctic Treaty where participating nations agreed to ban exploration for oil and gas, mining and any other irreversible exploitation for at least 50 years.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.

Amazingly, twenty-eight people spend six months of their lives at the South Pole each year with virtually no contact with the rest of the world, no sunlight, and no way to get away.These people are responsible for maintaining the U.S. polar base and to operate telescopes and other types of scientific equipment at the research station.As communications and technology see advancements, their job is changing.

In the past, astronomers located in North America used satellites to operate the telescope at the South Pole observatory.It was the only time a telescope located at the South Pole had been manipulated from another continent.Eventually, it is hoped by astronomers that it will become unnecessary for people to have to man the South Pole stations at all, operating everything remotely instead.Antarctic Cruising Tours

Those who work in Antarctica have to contend with one of the harshest environments on Earth.Antarctica has a higher elevation than any other continent which can complicate even the seemingly simple job of breathing.This is a reason that only plants and animals which have adapted to the cold can subsist there, which includes penguins, seals, some forms of algae and tundra vegetation.

“Winter-over” is the moniker given to people who spend their winter working in Antarctica for whatever reason.In order to occupy their time, they’re given great meals, exercise rooms, pool tables, as well as hundreds of videos to choose from.Typically winter-overs do not discus what occurs at the South Pole from February to October while they are isolated at the South Pole.antarctica holiday

The ever increasing size of the research program at the South Pole has caused there to be insufficient power for all the equipment.There are three oil-burning generators and these units are not enough to keep up with the demands of the technology that is being constantly introduced to the research program.This means that winter-overs have to deal with insufficient power, in addition to cramped quarters and cold buildings.

The winter months are broken up using some traditions.The outdoor temperature must be at least 100 degrees below zero for one to be inducted into the “300 Club.”The members heat the sauna up to 200 degrees.Then the run from the 200 degree sauna, out into the dangerous 100 degree air, and then back into the steaming water.

Winter-overs also look forward to the airdrop.This occurs in June. It is the drop of pallets of food, mail, and supplies by a U.S. Air National Guard military transport plane.The winter-overs must then run outside and use heavy equipment to quickly get the vital and highly anticipated deliveries back into the station.This is the closest winter-overs come to contact with the outside world for the entire six month winter.

They will also not be able to venture more than a mile from the pole during their stay in Antarctica.They are able to get a one week vacation at the McMurdo Station, which is the main U.S. Antarctic base.There, the weather’s only 25 degrees, and they’re able to wear less restrictive and heavy clothing, giving them a peaceful respite from their troubles.

It was in blood that Antarctica was christened.Millions of seals were killed for their coats, whales and penguins for their oil – which was used to grease the cogs of the industrial Revolution’s new age machinery.A harrowing process took place on Macquarie Island where hundreds of thousands of helpless penguins were herded into boiling cauldrons of oil in order to render the sought-after oil of these peaceful animals.

Finally, after exploiting the Frozen Continent more than 100 years, it seems humans are willing to let go of the easy money and fast kill opportunities to allow Antarctica to be a place of preserving both science and nature for the future.There may even be a world park established on this great land.Antarctica serves as a window for scientists to understanding the potential danger of several global threats such as our ozone depletion as well as greenhouse effect.In the grand scheme of things, this change is remarkably fast. It was only a short time since humans discovered this continent and used it for a quick buck. Before the 1957-1958 International Geophysical Year, the exploration had involved only small parts of the coastline, some islands, and a couple main access routes to the South Pole.antarctic cruise

From the time that Antarctica was first explored, its history is littered with fierceness, nationalism, idealism, and uncontrolled killing. Only occasionally would there be any attempts at scientific research.The artillery shells of World War One required oil from whales to operate, so whaling increased during this period.Whale oil continued to be a commodity after World War II, as the Soviet Union and the United States began to require more of the substance for use as a jet engine lubricant.Mapmakers of the Middle Ages labeled the abstract southern continent “Terra Australia Incognita”, and it remained so until the International Geophysical Year.

The birth of the first individual in Antarctica was a witness to dutiful conceit. That person has not yet reached adulthood.Emilio Marcus Palmer’s mother was specifically flown to Argentina’s Experanza Base in 1978 for the purpose of giving birth, and to emphasise the claim Argentina made to a large portion of Antarctic territory.great antarctic cruise

This occurred nine years after two American astronauts (Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin)had walked on the moon to plant the flag of their nation as a bold symbol of America’s prominence there.Another proactive attempt to exploit claim in Antarctica occurred in 1911 when Roald Amundsen raced to the South Pole in honor of Norway’s King Haakon VII.This same journey was made by Robert F. Scott of England, though his team took the time to amass fossil and rock samples along the way, carrying these things all on sleds.

However, as a result of finding out Amundsen had won the race to the Pole by a full month, in accumulation with eating a poor diet, having to haul the heavy rock samples, and bad luck, Scott and his team became the first people to die on this continent in the name of science.America made its claim on the South Pole when Richard Byrd flew over it in 1929 in a Ford Trimotor.In 1821, the soviets utilized Russian Admiral Thaddeus Bellingshausen’s voyage passed Antarctica in 1821 to justify their interests in the continent.