The continent of Antarctica is a place like no other in the world with its stark beauty and brutal climate and terrain.It remains the only continent in the world that has never seen the face of war.This is hard to believe when you realize that it is larger than Europe and America combined. It is true that many men have died here, but these deaths were do to the brutal conditions on the continent. The weather is so cold that virtually no germs can survive here.

Today Antarctica is a place where people from various countries, and conflicting political views, can come together to work in harmony, warmth, and comfort, while outside the labs are temperatures of 100 degrees below which could kill them within seconds.Since the horrendous cold of Antarctica makes their bodies lose calories at an alarming rate, those living in Antarctica are forced to eat four generous meals a day just to keep up.

It is home to the “big eye,” a singular condition of mass insomnia caused by the perpetual daylight of summer where inhabitants cannot sleep in the full sunshine of 3:00 am. The residents of Antarctica boast that they are members of the “300 Degree Club,” which is a very exclusive club.It claims the least expensive and southernmost bar of the world located at the South Pole where all drinks cost a like amount, but where even so the bill for a single night can be a great amount.From April to September, the people there experience long nights.antarctica cruise deals

Even though the heartland of this continent has a 9,000-foot shield of moving ice, it is believe to hold enough oil, gas, and coal to heat the entire world.Lacking most laws, ones that it does have is quite peculiar, not a single fugitive could be arrested. If capable of surviving such harsh environments and temperatures a criminal would have massive valleys and mountain ranges to hide in.

Even though Antarctica lacks a legal system, it enjoys the smallest incidence of crime than any other continent.Even if a crime did happen, such as a murder, it was never reported or prosecuted. Leaving a lot of mystery behind what may or could happen here.And if someone DID commit a crime, with no extradition agreements or statutes, there would be no way to charge or prosecute them.Recommended Antarctica Cruises

While the flags of 10 different nations are flying over this beautiful continent, there are no claims to the real estate located here.There has not been a single attempt by any nation to try and form some type of permanent colony here. Even so, some of the most brilliant minds and best technology resides here.

Most of the residents will not permanently live here, but they are some of the brightest in the world.Antarctica has the distinction of having a populace with more college graduates than high school graduates.Plus, there is more scientific talent here than you would find at any university. In addition to all this brain power, there is more peaceful research done here than in any capital in the world.The detonation of nuclear warheads is expressly forbidden on the continent, which makes it the only land mass on the planet to specifically prohibit such activity.

The laws that Antarctica does have are incredibly strict environmental laws.Animals that were once slaughtered by whale and seal hunters are now somewhat protected, as special licenses must now be obtained prior before hunting. The world’s pure scientists are working and playing together to keep this continent as pristine and primitive as possible.

Nations around the world started claiming large chunks of Antarctica for whaling purposes.On the Peninsula itself the countries of Argentina, Great Britain, and Chile have intersecting claims.Other countries that have claims to this area include France, New Zealand, Norway and Australia.

The greatest example of nationalism came in 1940 when planes were sent by Nazi Germany to drop stakes with the swastika symbol carved on them over vast areas of Antarctica to allege ownership by 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.Interest in Antarctica waned until the late 1950’s when certain events allowed scientists to observe the effect of solar radiation on Earth.

The celestial event was the peak of sunspot activity in 1957-1958. This International Geophysical Year is marked by increased interest by scientist and governments around the globe exploring Antarctica because of its one of a kind view of the southern hole in the Earth’s magnetic field. The wanted to be able to see how the barrage of solar radiation affected the continent.Scientists representing 67 different countries arrived to encircle the continent and establish their bases.Based on the success of their cooperative efforts, negotiations took place to create the Antarctic Treaty - which became one of the most extraordinary international agreements the world has seen.antarctica travel brochure

The treaty was fully enforced in 1959 and it was agreed by all signing countries that Antarctica would not be used for any wartime efforts.Nuclear testing/explosions were banned as well as any radioactive waste being dumped there.The only reason military activities were to be allowed on the continent was in the logistic support of science.Previous land claims were not addressed as a part of this treaty.

Although the Cold War wasn’t widely known as a time of cooperation, the superpowers dropped all claims, and ignored those of their ally nations, but made known their belief that their claim would still be valid at some future time.In one fell swoop, no country could stake any more claims to the continent.antarctic travel

All this changed in the 1960’s and 1970’s as the presence of oil, gas, and minerals believed to be on the continent, brought governments and industry searching for these resources.Soon, there were national bases all over the surrounding islands and the peninsula; at its most prolific, Antarctica is home to 5,000 people - only in the summer, and only in the science stations that are based all around the peninsula and islands.

By the end of the 1970s, bases from the US, Soviet Union, Britain, Italy and others propped up on King George Island, followed by more bases from China and South Korea in the 80’s, among others.Though they were there for ostensibly scientific purposes, their actions were not unlike the Nazi stake dropping in that they wanted to stake political claim.These bases essentially served as notices of the “squatting rights” of these nations.

However, by the 1980s the political mentality had begun to turn away from exploitation and in the direction of scientific exploration.In a manner similar to declaring the oceans international territory, the Antarctic has become a shared continent.The Halley Bay base in Antarctica, a British-run facility, showed us the first glimpses of the ozone layer depletion we were doing to the earth, increasing UV exposure exponentially.

In 1987, this discovery spurred an international decree that the end of the 20th century would see the end of chemical usage that damaged the ozone.This put Antarctica back on the map because the scientific research conducted at this location on Earth gave people a better view of how industry was changing Earth structurally and physically.It was also in the 1980’s that the disgust for whaling reached its highest point. It was also during this time that the Green movement of the world supported using Antarctica as a world park.

The same countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty, decided to disallow the removal of natural resources such as gas and oil from Antarctica for the next 50 years, and possibly longer. They also decided to make environmental issues equal to scientific issues.Antarctica is now acting as a guide to the human race, teaching them about the damage that can be done through industrial endeavors, and how to avoid environmental destruction in the future.

It was over a century ago when a whaling ship called the ‘Antarctic’ found itself anchored along the arctic, volcanic coast in the Ross Sea. It sent a longboat to shore.On January 24, 1985, this landing group, led by Captain Leonard Kristensen, was the very first humans to step onto the continent of Antarctica. Their mission was to hunt for whales in territories that were still unclaimed.

The continent of Antarctica’s baptism was bloody.Millions of seals were slaughtered and their fur was collected. Penguins and whales were killed for their precious oils, which were used in the machinery used by the Industrial Revolution.On Marquarie island alone, hundreds if not thousands of penguins were herded up into giant vats of boiling oil, until they became oil themselves.

However, after 100 years of journeys to this Frozen Continent, humans have decided to stop using it to make a quick buck by killing the animals and have chosen to make Antarctica into a preserve of nature and science.There has been recent discussion into the inception of a world park.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.Thankfully, humanity’s presence in Antarctica was short-lived, and the reversal of the travesties committed on this great continent are now a thing of the past.Up until the International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958, only several routes to the South Pole and small areas of coastline had been explored.antarctic cruise

It is shocking to look at the hundred years of ferocity, nationalism, idealism, and constant killing that fills Antarctica’s history since people first landed on this continent. There have only been occasional attempts to perform scientific research here.One remarkable event in the history of this continent was the increase of whaling during World War I so that the oil could be refined into glycerin and used for artillery shells.After the end of World War II, it became the Soviet Union and the United States that hunted the sperm whales for the extra-fine oil they produced, which was needed as lubricant for jet engines.The term “Terra Australia Incognita” was used until the IGY to label this continent. This term was first used by medieval mapmakers.

It may be surprising to note that the first person born in Antarctica was born there out of patriotic pretentiousness.Emilio Marcus Palmer’s birth was highly calculated as Argentina flew his mother to Argentina’s Esperanza Base to give birth, with the sole goal of securing Argentina’s right to much of Antarctica’s territory. great antarctic cruise

This incident occurred only nine years after America ‘claimed’ the moon by planting a US flag when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed there.However, Roald Amundsen’s 1911 trip to the South Pole, honoring King Haakon VII of Norway, still stands as the most single-minded and successful exploit to date.The British Empire gained honor through the works of Robert F Scott and his group who undertook a similar journey, with the addition of rock and fossil sample collection which they carried with them in their homemade sleds.

Due to a combination of being demoralized by Armundsen getting to the South Pole a month ahead of them, an unhealthy diet, hauling the rocks out, and basic overall bad luck on the return trip, Scott’s group became known as the first martyrs of Antarctic science.A rather unique attempt to stake America’s claim on the territory took place when a Ford Trimotor was flown over the South Pole by Richard Bryd in 1929.In 1821, the soviets utilized Russian Admiral Thaddeus Bellingshausen’s voyage passed Antarctica in 1821 to justify their interests in the continent.

If you want to be in hundred-degree weather in the middle of summer, you go two places - Dallas, Texas, or the South Pole.Granted, at the South Pole the 100 degrees is below zero.This means you could freeze your skin off in mere seconds.

Even with these conditions, twenty-eight people commit six months to living at the South Pole. They have to deal with no sunlight, very little contact with the world, and no way to escape.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.This was the first time a South Pole telescope was controlled from a warmer continent.Astronomers are wishing that someday they will have the ability of observing the universe from the South Pole while being physically located in a warm office somewhere else.Antarctic Cruising Tours

But the crew at the South Pole will experience the coldest, driest and windiest weather to be found on the planet.Its elevation is the highest of the continents, making breathing sometimes difficult.Therefore, only plants and animals that have adapted to the cold can survive there, such as various algaes, tundra vegetation, seals, and penguins.

Those who accept the risk of working during the Antarctic winter are called “winter-overs.”For entertainment, they have to rely on a large variety of videos, a small exercise room, a pool table, great food, and traditions.Normally, winter-overs do not speak much about what occurs during their winter months of isolation at the South Pole, from February to October.antarctic tours

Due to the huge growth of the research program at the South Pole, there are still continuous problems with insufficient electrical power.The station has three oil-burning generators but they have not been able to generate enough power to stay abreast of the increasing demands of computers, telescopes, lasers and other power intensive devices.Winter-overs have to deal with the power outages that occur as a result of this, which doesn’t help the cold.

Several traditions have been developed to help the crew better endure their assignment.One is the “300 Club”, which requires a day when the outside temperature will be at least 100 degrees below zero.This is when winter-overs get the sauna temperatures 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 airdrops.In June, a National Guard plane from the U.S. military flies over the South Pole, bringing welcome supplies, food, and mail.The winter-overs quickly go outside, utilize heavy equipment, and bring the supplies inside.This is the closest winter-overs are able to come to physical contact with the outside world during the six month winter.

During their stay in Antarctica, they will not travel over a mile from the pole or even see a tree.Each crew member gets a one week vacation to the United States’ main Antarctic base, McMurdo Station.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.