| The total continent of Antarctica, from its | | | | packaging. |
| massive mountains to the seas replete with blue | | | | There is ice that is more than one mile thick over |
| whales, emperor penguins and leopard seals, is, by | | | | the land and it does not allow life to flourish much |
| means of international agreement, classified as a | | | | except for some grass and moss near the shore. |
| wilderness preserve. This accord took effect in | | | | The ice on the continent accounts for 70% of |
| 1998, and prohibits mining and oil drilling for at least | | | | the Earth's fresh water. In the waters that |
| fifty years anywhere within the boundaries of the | | | | surround the continent, seals, fish, aquatic birds, |
| world's most frigid and pristine ecosystem. The | | | | and whales thrive. |
| treaty places a strong emphasis on conservation | | | | While it's one of the coldest places on this earth, it |
| but not development. Any wildlife threats, including | | | | is also the most fragile. Growth takes place very |
| dogs and pesticides are also forbidden. | | | | slowly because of the consistency of the sub |
| The agreement that sets all these rules it the | | | | zero temperatures. Recovering from trauma can |
| Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctic | | | | take years. As an example, a footprint in a moss |
| Treaty. This agreement has been set by the | | | | bed could remain unaltered for a decade. |
| nations of the world to keep Antarctica free of | | | | The original Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 |
| commercialism and industrial development. This | | | | placed a ban on all nuclear testing and military |
| agreement was signed in 1991 by the 26 leading | | | | activity in and around the continent. The treaty |
| nations with scientific interest in the land. Some of | | | | also declares Antarctica independent of any |
| the most prominent nations in the agreement are | | | | nations and also establishes guidelines for research. |
| the United States, Russia, China, India, Japan, | | | | A nation occupies nearly every inch of the area |
| Argentina, Brazil, and most of the primary | | | | even though no one actually owns Antarctica. |
| European nations. | | | | Once scientists found a rather large concentration |
| The regulations set forth by this treaty ended | | | | of offshore oil reserves, as well as abundant |
| over 15 years of lobbying by environmental | | | | mineral deposits that led environmental lobbyists |
| groups and put as stop to diplomatic talks. In | | | | to advocate laws for conservation ever since the |
| addition to preventing all oil drilling and mining, the | | | | 1980s. The ideas of drilling in Antarctica got |
| 35 scientific outposts on Antarctica are required | | | | tossed around in the 1970s when the energy |
| to remove all garbage and clean up all dumps. It | | | | crisis took place. Increases in the price of oil and |
| keeps tourists shops and scientific stations from | | | | advances in technology will intensify these |
| discharging raw sewage into the surrounding | | | | interests. |
| waters. | | | | With laws enforced in 26 nations, each nation will |
| Sled dogs were how explorers like Norwegian's | | | | be responsible for enforcing the rules individually. If |
| Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole in 1911. | | | | the country's government refuses to intervene |
| Dogs, however, were banned because they | | | | when its citizens violate the rules, the other |
| posed a recent danger to the penguins and other | | | | nations would apply pressure to solve the issue. |
| native birds. Antarctica can also never see | | | | There are many people who see this accord as |
| non-sterile soil, pesticides and polystyrene | | | | an environmental success story. |