The initial person to land on the Antarctic Peninsula was John Davis, the captain of a seal-hunting vessel that arrived at Hughes Bay in 1821. It was one more 77 years before the initial scientific expedition spent a winter on the frozen continent. In 1911, Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott both led small exploration teams towards the South Pole. Amundsen’s Norwegian team reached the Pole on 14 December 1911, just more than a month before Scott’s British group. Sadly, Scott’s group never made the Journey back from the pole.

As various counties explored the continent, each claimed areas of land as their own. After years of political bickering more than land claims, a group of international scientists achieved what the politicians couldn’t – a peaceful treaty. In 1959, 12 nations signed the Antarctic Treaty – an agreement to permit all counties totally free access to Antarctica for scientific research or other peaceful activities. Since then, more nations have signed the treaty, and further amendments have incorporated conservation and mining Issues.

Combating the weather

You will find over 40 scientific investigation stations dotted close to Antarctica’s terrain. Within the summer, they are manned by more than 2000 individuals, most of these living within the two largest bases: America’s McMurdo base and Russia’s Molodezhnaya base. The scientists carry out investigation about the upper atmosphere, the geology and geography from the land, the methods in which animals and plants survive such low temperatures, and how the tidal waters and ice fields close to Antarctica affect the Earth’s climate.

As the days draw in and the temperature drops with the coming of winter, most from the scientists migrate back to their warmer countries of origin. Even the most adventuresome tourists are forced to bow towards the overwhelming power of Antarctica’s weather as they sail away to warmer ports.