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39-666: The Australian Antarctic Territory ( AAT ) is a part of East Antarctica claimed by Australia as an external territory . It is administered by the Australian Antarctic Division , an agency of the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water . The territory's history dates to a claim on Enderby Land made by the United Kingdom in 1841, which was subsequently expanded and eventually transferred to Australia in 1933. It

78-550: A main body of 24 square metres (the "barrack") which consisted of semicylindrical sections of sheet metal assembled end to end. This form was planned to best withstand the snow pressure accumulated on it. Horizontal galleries were connected to house scientific measurement devices, while a vertical air conduit opened a few metres above the snow level provided ventilation. Robert Guillard Station known as Cap Prud'Homme ( 66°41′28″S 139°53′44″E  /  66.691104°S 139.895677°E  / -66.691104; 139.895677 )

117-674: A shore length of about 350 kilometres (220 mi) and with its inland part extending as a sector of a circle about 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) toward the South Pole . Adélie Land has borders with the Australian Antarctic Territory both on the east and on the west, namely on Clarie Land (part of Wilkes Land ) in the west, and George V Land in the east. Additionally, it is the only territory claimed within French Southern and Antarctic Lands that

156-651: A small portion of this region lies within the Eastern Hemisphere , a fact that has suggested the name. The name has been in existence for more than 110 years (Balch, 1902; Nordenskjöld, 1904), but its greatest use followed the International Geophysical Year (1957–58) and explorations disclosing that the Transantarctic Mountains provide a useful regional separation of East Antarctica and West Antarctica . The name

195-788: A team of up to 9 people; each convoy transports an average of 150 tons of payload. Part of the Pointe Géologie Archipelago in Adélie Land is protected by the Antarctic Specially Protected Area 120. In 2016, a study predicted that an Adélie penguin colony located in Cape Dennison in Commonwealth Bay might be subject to extinction. In 2010, a fallen glacier blocked the flow of a river and caused sea ice to overflow to

234-486: A temporary station, it was expanded and continually occupied. Like Base Marret, the station is located on Petrel Island, which is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the mainland. The station's research includes ecology , marine biology , glaciology , meteorology and more. In the documentary, March of the Penguins (2005), Dumont d'Urville Station was the main filming location. Charcot Station  [ fr ]

273-539: A winter population of 11 in 1950–51 and 17 in 1951–52. A crew under Mario Marret built a temporary secondary base in January 1952: Base Marret on Petrel Island . Port Martin was destroyed by a fire during the night of 23–24 January 1952. All of the inhabitants were safely evacuated, and they overwintered at Base Marret. Only the ancillary buildings of Port Martin were not destroyed by the fire and they have remained mostly untouched since. The Dumont d'Urville Station

312-730: Is a claimed territory of France located on the continent of Antarctica . It stretches from a portion of the Southern Ocean coastline all the way inland to the South Pole . France has administered it as one of five districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands since 1955 and applied the Antarctic Treaty System rules since 1961. Article 4 of the Antarctic Treaty deals with territorial claims, and although it does not renounce or diminish any preexisting claims to sovereignty, it also does not prejudice

351-407: Is a year-round French research base located at 66°40′S 140°01′E  /  66.667°S 140.017°E  / -66.667; 140.017 . The station is 4,815 square metres (51,830 sq ft) large and houses a summer population of 120 and a winter population of around 30. It was built on 12 January 1956 for the International Geophysical Year of 1957–58. Initially intended to be

390-618: Is an Italian-French camp, opened in 1994, located on the coast of the Antarctic ice sheet , in Adélie Land, about five km (3.1 mi) from Petrel Island , where the French Dumont d'Urville Station is. All the supplies and equipment for the Italian-French Concordia Station are transported by a combined convoy of up to 7 Caterpillar tractors from Cap Prud'Homme, with Kässbohrer trailblazers and

429-550: Is controversial and has received international attention. Anti-whaling protest groups, in particular Sea Shepherd Conservation Society , have been active within the Australian Antarctic territorial waters. Sea Shepherd small boat crews have had multiple encounters with Japanese ships that claim to be on research expeditions while opponents argue this is only a "cover" for banned commercial whaling . The Australian Whale Sanctuary , in Australian Antarctic territory,

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468-414: Is not an island. Its total land area, mostly covered with glaciers , is estimated to be 432,000 square kilometres (167,000 sq mi). The coast of Adélie Land is known for its katabatic winds which push snow and sea ice away from the coast. In a 1915 Science Magazine volume, it was named the "stormiest spot on the face of earth". The coast of Adélie Land was discovered in January 1840 by

507-470: Is not covered with ice . The small areas that remain free of ice ( Antarctic oasis ), including the McMurdo Dry Valleys inland, constitute a tundra-type biodiversity region known as Maudlandia Antarctic desert , after Queen Maud Land . There are no trees or shrubs, as only very limited plant life can survive here; the flora consists of lichens , moss , and algae that are adapted to

546-555: Is not recognised by the government of Japan. Anti-whaling legislation passed by the Australian Government applies to Australian territorial waters. However, Australia's claims of sovereignty over the Australian Antarctic Territory—and thus sovereignty over Australian Antarctic territorial waters—are recognised by only the United Kingdom, New Zealand, France and Norway. Active and closed stations in

585-495: Is the largest Antarctica claimed by any by area. Australia is an original signatory to the Antarctic Treaty of 1961. Under section 4, all territorial claims are held in abeyance. Only four other countries accept Australia's claim — New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, and Norway. Those four countries also have claims to parts of Antarctica and all five mutually accepted each others claims. The AAT consists of all

624-664: The Antarctic) would seem to be that an EEZ cannot be claimed in relation to territory to which that Treaty applies (south of 60° South). The provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) define the exclusive economic zone of a coastal state as up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured. Whaling in Australian Antarctic territorial waters

663-758: The Australian Antarctic Territory. The first issues came in 1957, and sporadically thereafter, settling into a pattern of an annual issue by the 1990s. All have been Antarctic-themed, and all are valid for postage in Australia and its territories, including Antarctica. Assigned the country calling code +672 1[0-4] XXXX, the four stations and the Aurora Australis operated by the Australian Antarctic Division can be reached by direct calling from anywhere in

702-467: The Commonwealth as a Territory under the authority of the Commonwealth, by the name of the Australian Antarctic Territory. C2004C00416 / Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933 ( Cth ) The borders with Adélie Land were fixed definitively in 1938. In 1947, Britain transferred Heard Island and McDonald Islands to the territory. On 13 February 1954, Mawson Station was established as

741-567: The Commonwealth of Australia. In 1933, the Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933 stated: That part of the territory in the Antarctic seas which comprises all the islands and territories, other than Adelie Land, situated south of the 60th degree south latitude and lying between the 160th degree east longitude and the 45th degree east longitude, is hereby declared to be accepted by

780-553: The French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville (1790–1842) who named it after his wife, Adèle . This is the basis of the French claim to this Antarctic land. The first French research station, Port Martin , was built in 1950. It was destroyed by a fire in 1952, and replaced by Dumont d'Urville Station in 1956. Charcot Station was a French inland base built which was occupied from 1957 to 1960. Cap Prud'Homme Camp, an Italian-French base, opened in 1994. Prud'Homme and Dumont d'Urville are

819-713: The coast, East Antarctica is permanently covered by ice and it has relatively low biodiversity , with only a small number of species of terrestrial plants, animals, algae , and lichens . The coasts are the breeding ground for various seabirds and penguins, and the leopard seal , Weddell seal , elephant seal , crabeater seal and Ross seal breed on the surrounding pack ice in summer. Almost completely covered in thick, permanent ice, East Antarctica comprises Coats Land , Queen Maud Land , Enderby Land , Kemp Land , Mac. Robertson Land , Princess Elizabeth Land , Wilhelm II Land , Queen Mary Land , Wilkes Land , Adélie Land , George V Land , Oates Land and Victoria Land . All but

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858-459: The cold and wind, and cling to rocks. The coasts are home to seabirds , penguins , and seals ( Pinnipeds ), which feed in the surrounding ocean , including the emperor penguin , which famously breeds in the cold, dark Antarctic winter. Seabirds of the coast include southern fulmar ( Fulmarus glacialoides ) , the scavenging southern giant petrel ( Macronectes giganteus ) , Cape petrel ( Daption capense ) , snow petrel ( Pagodroma nivea ) ,

897-431: The continent's mineral deposits. These include coal seams, manganese, iron and uranium, while Antarctica's forecast oil reserves are estimated as among the largest in the world after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela . Lowy's national security fellow Ellie Fogarty said in the paper that Australia cannot adequately patrol its claim, lacking the kind of ski-planes it needs to reach some areas. Australia issues postage stamps for

936-476: The continent. The plan incorporated a strategy to protect the Antarctic environment and maintain an indefinite ban on mining and oil drilling. The construction of a research and resupply icebreaker vessel was also planned. The 25,000-tonne RSV  Nuyina was delivered in 2021 and was immediately employed in support of the Casey Station . It is envisaged that the ship will support scientific research over

975-566: The early 1980s, there was a brief debate in Australia on whether or not to allow mining on the mineral-rich continent . Several mining proposals have been discussed and have all been rejected. On 9 August 2011, the influential Australian think-tank, the Lowy Institute , published a report warning Canberra against complacency when it comes to its claim. The global treaty banning resource exploitation becomes reviewable in 2041, and some states may then decide to withdraw from it considering

1014-529: The east of the French Territorial claim of Adélie Land , and all other districts lying to its west. Australia claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from the Australian Antarctic Territory. However, the Australian proclamation of an Antarctic EEZ is contested. The effect of Article IV of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty (which prohibits new territorial claims or the extension of existing claims in

1053-440: The first Australian station on the continent proper. Australia's claim to sovereignty over the Australian Antarctic Territory is recognised by only the United Kingdom, New Zealand, France and Norway. Ships of Japan conduct whaling in Australian Antarctic territorial waters. In 2016, the Australian Government formulated an Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year "Action Plan" to improve overland transport capabilities and aviation access to

1092-721: The islands and territory south of 60°S and between 44°38′E and 160°E , except for Adélie Land ( 136°E to 142°E ), which divides the territory into Western AAT (the larger portion) and Eastern AAT. It is bounded by Queen Maud Land in the West and by the Ross Dependency in the East. The Australian Antarctic Territory is the largest of any claims to the continent, and covers nearly 5.9 million square kilometres. This makes up about 42% of Antarctica , and would cover about 80% of Mainland Australia . It also corresponds to roughly twice

1131-615: The majority (two-thirds) of the Antarctic continent , lying primarily in the Eastern Hemisphere south of the Indian Ocean , and separated from West Antarctica by the Transantarctic Mountains . It is generally greater in elevation than West Antarctica, and includes the Gamburtsev Mountain Range in the center. The geographic South Pole is located within East Antarctica. Apart from small areas of

1170-855: The mosses and lichens. The remote and extremely cold bulk of Antarctica remains almost entirely untouched by human intervention. The area is protected by the Antarctic Treaty System which bans industrial development, waste disposal and nuclear testing, while the Barwick Valley , one of the Dry Valleys, Mount Rittmann , and Cryptogam Ridge on Mount Melbourne are specially protected areas for their undisturbed plant life. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from "East Antarctica" . Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Ad%C3%A9lie Land Adélie Land ( French : Terre Adélie [tɛʁ adeli] ) or Adélie Coast

1209-680: The next 30 years. Through "Operation Southern Discovery", elements of the Australian Defence Force also provide annual support for the Australian Antarctic Division and the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) in regional scientific, environmental and economic activities. The Royal Australian Air Force provides air logistical support using C-17 transport aircraft supported by KC-30 tanker aircraft to supply Wilkins airfield in Antarctica. During

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1248-412: The only currently remaining active stations. The site of Port Martin was discovered during a French Antarctic Expedition under André-Frank Liotard  [ es ; fr ] on 18 January 1950. Liotard, along with 11 men, established the station on 9 April 1950 at 66°49′04″S 141°23′39″E  /  66.81778°S 141.39417°E  / -66.81778; 141.39417 . Port Martin housed

1287-487: The position of contracting parties in their recognition or non-recognition of territorial sovereignty. France has had a permanent station in Adélie Land since 9 April 1950. Adélie Land lies between 136° E (near Pourquoi Pas Point at 66°12′S 136°11′E  /  66.200°S 136.183°E  / -66.200; 136.183 ) and 142° E (near Point Alden at 66°48′S 142°02′E  /  66.800°S 142.033°E  / -66.800; 142.033 ), with

1326-503: The size of Queen Maud Land, India , Argentina or Kazakhstan . The territory is mostly inhabited by the staff of research stations. The Australian Antarctic Division administers the area primarily by maintaining three year-round stations— Mawson , Davis , and Casey —which support various research projects. The territory is divided into nine districts, which are from west to east: These regions are split into two separate areas geographically, with George V Land and Oates Land lying to

1365-607: The small Wilson's storm-petrel ( Oceanites oceanicus ) , the large south polar skua ( Catharacta maccormicki ) , and Antarctic petrel ( Thalassoica antarctica ) . The seals of the Antarctic Ocean include leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) , Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) , the huge southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) , crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus) and Ross seal ( Ommatophoca rossii ). There are no large land animals but bacteria , nematodes , springtails , mites , and midges live on

1404-467: The territory, from West to East: In 1933, a British imperial order stated: That part of His Majesty's dominions in the Antarctic Seas which comprises all the islands and territories other than Adélie Land which are situated south of the 60th degree of South Latitude and lying between the 160th degree of East Longitude and the 45th degree of East Longitude is hereby placed under the authority of

1443-556: The world. The area codes are 10 for Davis, 11 for Mawson, 12 for Casey, 13 for Macquarie Island and 14 for Wilkins and the Aurora Australis, in each case followed by four additional digits. As of May 2018, the AAT was believed to have a population of around 80 people during winters and 200 during summers. 75°00′S 102°30′E  /  75.000°S 102.500°E  / -75.000; 102.500 East Antarctica East Antarctica , also called Greater Antarctica , constitutes

1482-414: Was a French inland base located on the Antarctic ice sheet at 320 kilometres (200 mi) from the coast and from Dumont d'Urville Station, at an elevation of about 2,400 metres (7,900 ft). The station, built for the International Geophysical Year of 1957–58, paid homage to Jean-Baptiste Charcot ), and was occupied from January 1957 through 1960 housing alone three men. The base was composed of

1521-786: Was approved in the United States by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in 1962. East Antarctica is generally higher than West Antarctica, and is considered the coldest place on Earth . The subglacial Gamburtsev Mountain Range , about the size of the European Alps, in the center of East Antarctica, are believed to have been the nucleation site for the East Antarctic Ice Sheet , just underneath Dome A . Very little of East Antarctica

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