British Antarctic Territory
British Antarctic Territory | ||
---|---|---|
Government Dependency under a constitutional monarchy | | |
• Monarch | Charles III | |
Paul Candler | ||
• Deputy Commissioner | Jane Rumble | |
• Administrator | George Clarkson[1] | |
UTC-03:00 | ||
UK postcode | BIQQ 1ZZ | |
Internet TLD |
The British Antarctic Territory (BAT) is a sector of
The Territory was formed on 3 March 1962, although the UK's claim to this portion of the Antarctic dates back to
The territory is inhabited by the staff of research and support stations operated and maintained by the
History
The United Kingdom has had a continuous presence in the far
In 1917, the wording of the claim was modified, so as to, among other things, unambiguously include all the territory in the sector stretching to the South Pole (thus encompassing all of the present-day British Antarctic Territory). The new claim covered "all islands and territories whatsoever between the 20th degree of west longitude and the 50th degree of west longitude which are situated south of the 50th parallel of south latitude; and all islands and territories whatsoever between the 50th degree of west longitude and the 80th degree of west longitude which are situated south of the 58th parallel of south latitude".[4]
The United Kingdom also claimed
Recognition
The
Geography
Topography
The British Antarctic Territory includes the
Over 99 per cent of the territory's land surface is covered by a permanent ice sheet, up to about 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) thick.
Vegetation
There are very few plants in the British Antarctic Territories; most of them are
Wildlife
Many bird species, including seven species of penguin breed in the British Antarctic Territories. The British Antarctic Territories are also home to six species of seals.[12]
Administration
Politics of British Antarctic Territory |
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The British Antarctic Territory is administered by the
The Territory has a full suite of laws and legal and postal administrations. Given the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty System, the Territory does not enforce its laws on foreign nations who maintain scientific bases within the Territory. It is self-financing, with income from the sale of postage stamps and income tax.
The Royal Navy deploys the ice patrol ship, HMS Protector, in South Atlantic and Antarctic waters during the regional summer. The ship fulfills a variety of roles, including support for the British Antarctic Survey.[13] The British Antarctic Survey also operates the RRS Sir David Attenborough in the region during the Antarctic summer, a ship owned by the Natural Environment Research Council.[14]
Nationality law
The territory is fully a part of the British Overseas Territories for nationality purposes. It is possible to hold British Overseas Territories citizenship (BOTC) by virtue of a connection with the territory. Additionally, since the relevant provisions of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 came into force on 21 May 2002, a BOTC connected with the territory would also hold British citizenship.
Although this territory's immigration laws would not allow for naturalisation, a person born in the territory before 1983 would hold BOTC (and British citizenship) on that basis. British citizenship and BOTC would also extend to the first generation born overseas. Since Emilio Palma was born in the Antarctic territories claimed by the UK prior to 1983, he automatically had British nationality at birth. Since his parents were both Argentine citizens and he was born at an Argentine base, he was automatically granted Argentine citizenship by the Argentine government.
Changes to British nationality law from 1 January 1983 mean that a child born in the territory can only gain BOTC and/or British citizenship if his/her father or mother holds BOTC and/or British citizenship or if his/her father or mother is "ordinarily resident" in the territory in compliance with the relevant immigration legislation.[15] This effectively prevents any more children born in Argentine or Chilean bases within the area of the British claim being able to claim BOTC or British citizenship by virtue of being born within the territory.
Research stations
The British Antarctic Survey has two permanently staffed facilities in the Territory: Halley Research Station and Rothera Research Station.[16][17]
Since 1996, the historic base at
Postage stamps and coins
Despite the lack of permanent inhabitants, the British Antarctic Territory issues its own postage stamps. While some are actually used by visiting tourists and resident scientists, the bulk are sold overseas to collectors. The first issue came in 1963, an engraved set with 15 values ranging from ½d to one pound, featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth overlooking various scenes of human activity in Antarctica. Several additional issues in the 1960s were followed by a decimalisation issue in 1971 produced by overprinting the 1963 stamps.
In 2008–2009, as part of the celebrations of the centenary of the 1908 British territorial claim, the British Antarctic Territory issued its first ever legal-tender coin.[21]
Queen Elizabeth Land
On 18 December 2012, the
The name "Queen Elizabeth Land" will be used in future on all British maps, but due to the unique status of Antarctica, it will be up to other countries to recognise the name if they see fit.[22] Argentina, which lays claim to part of the area, criticised the naming.[23]
See also
- Australian Antarctic Territory
- Canadian Arctic Archipelago
- Hope Bay incident
- Marie Byrd Land
- Princess Elizabeth Land
- Ross Dependency
- Territorial claims in Antarctica
- Tierra del Fuego
References
- ^ "Who We Are". British Antarctic Territory. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ISBN 9781849460194.
- ^ a b "The Antarctic Treaty". National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019.
- ^ LCCN 96054217.
- ^ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- LCCN 88037622. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ Cahoon, Ben. "British Antarctic Territory". Worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ "UK to rename part of Antarctica Queen Elizabeth Land". BBC News. 18 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ^ Rayner, Gordon (18 December 2012). "Part of Antarctica named 'Queen Elizabeth Land' as gift for Diamond Jubilee". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ^ a b c British Antarctic Territory, Country Facts Archived 12 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- ^ New satellite imagery reveals new highest Antarctic Peninsula Mountain British Antarctic Survey, 11 December 2017
- ^ a b Commonwealth Secretariat Website Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "HMS Protector (A173) | Royal Navy".
- ^ "RRS Sir David Attenborough". British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ British Nationality Act 1981, s.1, s.15 & s.50
- ^ "Research Stations in Antarctica". British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- ^ Extreme Engineering: the challenges of working in AntarcticaArchived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Ingenia, September 2005.
- ^ "Signy Research Station". British Antarctic Survey. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- ^ "Faraday Station - History". British Antarctic Survey. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. Archived from the originalon 21 May 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
- ^ "The British Antarctic Territory Currency". United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust. Archived from the original on 19 April 2010.
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 18 December 2012. Archivedfrom the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ^ "Argentina angry after Antarctic territory named after Queen". BBC News. 22 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
External links
- British Antarctic Territory at UK Foreign Office
- British Antarctic Survey