Antarctica and the Antarctic region
Norway and six other countries have territorial claims in Antarctica - some of which overlap each other. To avoid conflicts, the question of sovereignty has literally been put on ice through the Antarctic Treaty (1959), which also prohibits military and nuclear activity on the continent. In this way, the Treaty has made Antarctica a continent dedicated to peace and science.
The Norwegian Polar Institute is the environmental administrative authority for Bouvetoya, a small ice-covered island just north of the Antarctic Treaty Area, and for Norwegian activity south of the 60th parallel. The Polar Institute is also Norwegian authorities’ principal adviser with respect to implementation of the Environmental Protocol (1991) - a diplomatic "sunshine story" wherein 26 countries have adopted strict environmental regulations for the continent and have agreed that there will be no mineral exploration on the continent for the next 150 years.
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth. The continent has an area that covers approx. 14 million km2, an area which is doubled during the winter when the sea ice extends almost 1000 km from the coast. Introduction of alien species, the consequences of increased tourism and climate change are all issues related to activities on the continent. The ice on the continent can also provide us with answers to how the climate has evolved over several hundred thousand years, and Antarctica is therefore an important reference area for international environmental research.
Show/hide facts about Antarctica
- 14 million square kilometers – or 40 times the size of Norway
- 98% of the continent is covered by ice and snow
- Contains 90 percent of all the ice in the world
- At lits thickest, the ice is measured to be 4776 meters thick
- If all the ice in Antarctica melted, sea levels on Earth would increase by approx. 70 meters
- Record cold: - 89.2 C
- Have a unique and vulnerable wildlife
- There is little vegetation, and only two flowering species
- 45 species of birds nest in the area
- Through the Antarctic Treaty is the continent dedicated peace, environmental protection and research
- The Norwegian Polar Institute is the national management authority over the environmental regulations for the Antarctic and preservation regulations for Bouvetøya
- Since 1976/77, Norwegian scientists have conducted regular expeditions to the Norwegian claim area Dronning Maud Land
Bouvetøya. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute
Areas in the Antarctic
Species in the Antarctic
Are you planning activities in the Antarctic?
For those who plan visits or activities in the region, we have put together a summary of the current requirements and provisions of the Antarctic. Please note that you must inform the Norwegian Polar Institute (or one of the other treaty states) no later than one year in advance.
Polar operations in the Antarctic
Research in the polar regions are demanding. Not least from a logistical point of view. Large distances, cold climate and general lack of infrastructure sets great demands on the transport apparatus, equipment and security. Nowhere is this more visible than in the Antarctic: distances are enormous, extreme climate and the infrastructure is very spread out. In parallel with the construction of the all-year station Troll in Dronning Maud Land, the Norwegian Polar Institute has built up a significant support system for procurement, transportation, staffing, training and operational and technical operations related to the station. Read more about polar operations in the Antarctic.
Photo: Winfried Dallmann / Norwegian Polar Institute
Environment & climate
So far, the Antarctic has been less affected by climate change than the Arctic, and the temperature in Antarctica is generally very low. Several factors contribute to this, including low solar radiation in winter, the ability to reflect solar radiation, the cooling effect of long wave radiation from the continent to the continent's and height above sea level.
