Colonization of Antarctica

Quick Facts: Who was Colonization of Antarctica?

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Colonization of Antarctica

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The history of establishing control, exploration, and scientific presence across the continent.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Colonization of Antarctica is the establishing and maintaining of control over Antarctic land for exploitation and possible settlement. Antarctica was claimed by several states since the 16th century, culminating in a territorial competition in the first half of the 20th century when its interior was explored and the first Antarctic camps and bases were set up. Contemporarily territorial claims and activities on Antarctica have been limited since the Antarctic Treaty (1959) by the Antarctic Treaty System and its Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. At present the population of Antarctica comprises scientists and staff of approximate 4,000 people in summer and 1,000 in winter, from 30 countries staying at about 70 bases (40 year-round and 30 summer-only). Of those bases, two are civilian settlements, the Argentinian-administered Esperanza Base and Chilean-administered Villa Las Estrellas.

Career & Major Achievements

The Antarctic region has been a region of sovereign claims since at least the 16th century. The harsh Southern Ocean thwarted exploration of the region for hundreds of years, until the first half of the 19th century when sealers and explorers reported having found new southern lands. After whalers started hunting in the area polar explorers started venturing inland at the start of the 20th century, reaching the South Pole in 1911, European and American states increasingly made claims over Antarctic lands, supported by setting up expanding whaling stations and Antarctic research bases. An idea in the 1950s was to have Antarctic cities enclosed under glass domes. Power and temperature regulation of the domes would come from atomic driven generators outside of these domes.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

While the Soviets used radioisotope thermal generators in some of their remote Arctic and Antarctic locations, the Americans experimented with nuclear fission, building on their Army nuclear power plant program. The PM-3A nuclear power reactor at McMurdo Station was plagued with reliability issues (achieving an availability factor of only 74%) and was eventually deemed a pollution hazard and consequently shut down and dismantled. Buckminster Fuller, the developer of the geodesic dome, had raised the possibility of Antarctic domed cities that would allow a controlled climate and buildings erected under the dome. His first specific published proposal for a domed city in 1965 discussed the Antarctic as a likely first location for such a project. The second base at Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station (operated 1975–2003) resembles a reduced version of this idea; it is large enough to cover only a few scientific buildings.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1911: 1911 Milestone — After whalers started hunting in the area polar explorers started venturing inland at the start of the 20th century, reaching the South Pole in 1911, European and American states increasingly made claims over Antarctic lands, supported by setting up expanding whaling stations and Antarctic research bases.
2. 1959: 1959 Milestone — Contemporarily territorial claims and activities on Antarctica have been limited since the Antarctic Treaty (1959) by the Antarctic Treaty System and its Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
3. 1965: 1965 Milestone — His first specific published proposal for a domed city in 1965 discussed the Antarctic as a likely first location for such a project.
4. 1975: 1975 Milestone — The second base at Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station (operated 1975–2003) resembles a reduced version of this idea; it is large enough to cover only a few scientific buildings.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Colonization of Antarctica

True or False: “Did territorial claims on Antarctica cease entirely after the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While contemporary activities are limited by the treaty, historical claims were made dating back to at least the 16th century.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Colonization of Antarctica