what example of international cooperation works to protect antarctica?

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Preserving Antarctica's Pristine Landscapes

By Stephen Hartshorne
GoNOMAD Associate Editor

People who accept toured Antarctica describe it as a life-changing experience — an unspoiled continent unlike whatsoever other.

Seals are just as curious about humans as we are about them.
Seals are just every bit curious almost humans equally we are about them.

"In that location is no place on Earth like Antarctica," says Kassandra Magruder of Risk Life in Missoula, Montana, which operates many different Antarctic tours. "What makes it so unique is that in that location is so piffling evidence of human habitation or bear upon on the mural.

"It literally feels like you lot're on some other planet, a planet where no humans have lived, that is dominated past only the forces of weather and wildlife.

"My favorite memory is kayaking amongst the icebergs, having penguins jumping over the bow of my gunkhole, inches from my face. Looking down into the water and seeing leopard seals peering curiously upward, trying to make sense of what this foreign object was bobbing on the waves above.

"Of course the thousands of penguins at the landing sites, toddling over to poke and prod at my backpack — looking for snacks? Trying to suss out if it would make a suitable mating partner?

Whales are drawn to the nutrient rich waters of the Antarcctic oceans.
Whales are fatigued to the food-rich waters of the Antarctic oceans.

"Information technology's an unreal surroundings. If I could go dorsum to simply one place for the rest of my life, it would be Antarctica, hands down."

The Antarctic Treaty System

Keeping Antarctica unspoiled is the joint responsibility of the 52 nations which are signatories of the Antarctic Treaty System. In that respect, the attempt to protect the continent is a model of international cooperation.

Manuel Lois, who took the Risk Life tour of the Antarctic Peninsula with his son Eti, says the experience provided a hopeful vision of the future:

"The most striking thing most our trip is how all the countries involved and the tourist industry take worked together to protect Antarctica and keep information technology virgin and untouched by humans (except in the scientific stations).

Ice formations on the Antarctic Peninsula
Ice formations on the Antarctic Peninsula

"The respect for animals and mural was incredible. The silence. The fresh clean air. The crystal waters. The first thing one discovers is that every place is unlike and unique. Each beach, glacier, iceberg, mountain has its unique geology ecosystem and charm.

"Your mind soars above the glaciers, the fresh crisp cold clean air enters your lungs as you breath, filling you with new free energy and dear for life and respect for nature. Then the silence… enveloped in the silence at the top of a height with a scenic view that humbles you and make your tears flow in awe at the dazzler of nature.

Respectful Relationships

"The crack of ice equally the glacier melts forming new icebergs, the multicolor and royal forms of each iceberg reminding yous of how delicate and temporal we are, the thousand songs of penguins chattering all around you lot, the majestic trip the light fantastic of whales as they bound and swoop in front of you lot, the speed and beauty of hourglass dolphins, the fun of a polar plunge in the chilling waters of the hidden Deception Island…

"All memories of a lifetime and a reminder that we are part of it all, that we all live in ane land named Planet Earth and that we are all connected to one some other and that our selfishness can destroy it all.

"Simply it also fills us with hope as this magic kingdom has proven that when nosotros all reach for the same goal we tin all promote good for you respectful relationships with ane some other and mother nature for generations to come."

A penguin feeding its young
A penguin feeding its immature

Antarctica was first discovered in 1820. In that year the continent was sighted by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, a captain in the Russian Imperial Navy, Edward Bransfield, a captain in the British Royal Navy, and Nathaniel Palmer the captain of a sealer out of Stonington, Connecticut.

Numerous expeditions explored the continent in the 19th century, and in 1911 a British expedition led past Robert Falcon Scott arrived at the Southward Pole, only to find that a Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen had arrived there a month earlier. Tragically, all the members of Scott'southward advance party perished attempting to return to their base of operations.

Scientific Research

The region was visited mainly by whale- and seal-hunting vessels in the 19th century, and the 20th brought scientists from all over the world who set up research stations to report biological science, geology, oceanography, physics, astronomy, and meteorology.

Since Antarctica has the highest pinnacle of whatsoever continent, and is the dryest, the air has less moisture than anywhere else. Add together to that the lack of light pollution, and you get the clearest view of space anywhere in the world. Information technology'southward likewise a bully identify to find and written report meteorites.

There are about 1,000 scientists on the continent during the wintertime, which lasts from Apr to October, and every bit many as five,000 in the summer from November to March.

The Treaty System

Exploring a shipwreck
Exploring a shipwreck

Although several nations claim sovereignty over parts of Antarctica, these claims are non internationally recognized and the continent is governed past the 1959 Antarctic Treaty and related international agreements that prohibit mining and military activities.

The treaty was originally signed past Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Republic of chile, French republic, Nippon, New Zealand, Kingdom of norway, South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland and the Us, and since then by 40 other countries. The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat has its headquarters in Buenos Aires.

Tourism is regulated by treaty protocols and by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, which works to maintain the continent'due south pristine surroundings.

Planning Your Trip

If you're planning a trip to Antarctica, you should practice some homework to figure out how long you want to take and what kind of vessel you desire to travel on. You lot should also make up one's mind what time of year you want to visit.

There'southward no better place to do this than the Adventure Life website's travel planning page.

Six different species of penguins breed in Antarctica.
Half-dozen dissimilar species of penguins brood in Antarctica.

Well-nigh Antarctic tours require iv days at sea to get from South America to Antarctica across the Beagle Aqueduct and the rocky seas of Drake'due south Passage. The seas are then crude at that place that Drake actually took a more inland route through the Strait of Magellan.

Usually, the fourth dimension at ocean is taken up with safe briefings and presentations from the trek team most the places you'll exist exploring.

Fly-Sail Cruises

For those who want to avoid the additional time at sea, Run a risk Life now offers Fly-Sail Cruises that accept passengers by air from Republic of chile to St. George's Island in Antarctica.

There they embark on expedition vessels to explore the Antarctic Peninsula and other locations similar Paulet Island, Hope Bay, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, and Deception Island on daily zodiac boat excursions.

Antarctic cruises can't accept predetermined routes because weather and ice conditions are and then variable. The Lemaire Channel, for example, is known as "Kodak Gap" considering of its dramatic landscapes; but it's merely nearly a mile wide and information technology's sometimes blocked by water ice.

Short or Long

Most of Antarctica is covered with ice a mile thick.
Nearly of Antarctica is covered with ice a mile thick.

Whether you lot cull the six-day air cruises or the 37-mean solar day Atlantic Odyssey, you lot'll want to do some inquiry nearly the Antarctic Region to decide whether you want to visit places like South Georgia Island, the Falklands, the South Shetland Islands, St. Helena, and Ascent Island.

And then yous need to determine what blazon of send you want to sail on. Research ships carry about fifty passengers for a more personal cruise. There's probably a bar and lounge area and a viewing deck, just many cabins are shared.

Ice Breakers carry almost 100 passengers with more than space and more civilities like a laundry and an exercise room. Expedition prowl ships (almost 120) are larger and make for smoother sailing. They besides have fine dining and internet admission.

Luxury expedition ships carry upward to 200 passengers and have just about everything: queen-size beds, televisions, climate control, pool, sauna, pilus salon, you name it.

No matter what type of cruise you choose, your Antarctic voyage is spring to have you reaching for superlatives to describe the experience of a lifetime.

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Source: https://www.gonomad.com/6102-antarctica-a-model-of-international-cooperation

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