Antarctic Treaty

The 1959 Antarctic Treaty (effective since 1961) recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

About Antarctic Treaty

• The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements are collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS).
• It regulates international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth’s only continent without a native human population.
• For the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude.
• The treaty entered into force in 1961 and currently has 54 parties.
• The treaty sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation, and bans military activity on the continent.
• The treaty was the ....