Antarctica up-close

Ever wondered how day-to-day life is in Antarctica? Did you know it was a rainforest once?

• One of the most pristine places on the planet, Antarctica, is so cold that it doesn’t have any native population. Yet, it’s filled with international researchers bound by the Antarctica Treaty.
• Antarctica Treaty, signed in 1959 states, “the Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord.”
• Climate change is definitely leaving its mark on the continent with temperatures having risen by up to 3 deg Celcius in the last 50 years - five times the global mean.
• Everyday things that we take for granted on the rest of the planet, such as acquiring and storing food and human waste management, take on elaborate dimensions on Antarctica.
• Tourism to the Antarctica, despite the expensive journey, has been on the rise with the post-pandemic outlook looking impressive. But it comes with its own set of issues.
• With growing interest in the continent, from research as well as tourism perspective, there is a danger of new species being introduced in the fragile ecosystem - a sort of reverse zoonosis.
• This read list will certainly make you a lot more informed on an intriguing continent that’s not ruled by any single entity but is a textbook example of peaceful global cooperation.