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The Antarctic
Treaty was signed by twelve nations on
1 December 1959, and came into effect on June 23, 1961. Since
then, 28 other nations have become signatories. The Treaty is
an excellent and unique example of international cooperation.
The Treaty bans any military activity
or nuclear testing in Antarctica, and allows nations to conduct
scientific research only. The Treaty includes all the land and
iceshelves south of 60° S. The Treaty also ensures free exchange
of information and scientists between countries, and gives nations
the right to inspect the Antarctic operations of other countries.
Of the thirty-nine countries which have become signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, there are 25 nations which are engaged in large scale scientific research. This generally means maintaining a year round station on the continent. Among these are the twelve original signatories: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Soviet Union (now Russia), the United Kingdom and the United States. Of these, Australia has the largest Antarctic territory.
Click here to find out about the Australian Territory
in Antarctica and the Australian Antarctic Division: what
it does and how it trains people to go to Antarctica.
Even in Antarctica Australians play cricket! Australian Casey Station
If you use any part of
this, acknowledge it in your bibliography like this:
Antarctica
(2001).
[Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au