Colonization of Antarctica
Establishing permanent human societies in Antarctica / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Colonization of Antarctica?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Colonization of Antarctica refers to establishment of civilian settlements in Antarctica having humans, including families, living on the continent of Antarctica. Currently, the continent hosts only two civilian colonies,[1][2] the Argentinian-administered Esperanza Base and Chilean-administered Villa Las Estrellas, as well as about 70 scientific and military bases with a transient population of scientists and support staff. Antarctica is the only continent on Earth without indigenous human inhabitants, despite its proximity to Argentina and Chile at the Antarctic Peninsula.
At present scientists and staff from 30 countries live on about 70 bases (40 year-round and 30 summer-only), with an approximate population of 4,000 in summer and 1,000 in winter. There have been at least eleven human births in Antarctica, starting with one in 1978 at an Argentine settlement, with seven more at that base and three at a Chilean settlement.
The Antarctic Treaty System, a series of international agreements, presently limit claims and activities on Antarctica. It would need to be modified or abandoned before additional large-scale colonization (coincident with national territorial claims) could legally occur, in particular with respect to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.[3]