Antarctica

Part of the What Everyone Needs to Know® series David Day''s book on Antarctica examines the most forbidding and formidably inaccessible continent on Earth. Antarctica was first discovered by European explorers in 1820 and for over a century following this countries competed for the frozen land''s vast marine resources―namely the skins and oil of seals and whales. Soon the entire territory played host to competing claims by rival nations. The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 was meant to end this contention but countries have found other means of extending control over the land with scientific bases establishing at least symbolic claims. Exploration and drilling by the United States Great Britain Russia Japan and others has led to discoveries about the world''s climate in centuries past―and in the process intimations of its alarming future. Delving into the history of the continent Antarctic wildlife arguments over governance underwater mountain rangers and the continent''s use in predicting coming global change Day''s work sheds new light on a territory that despite being the coldest driest and windiest continent in the world will continue to be the object of intense speculation and competition.