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Ordinary people can’t just stroll into Antarctica. Only specially selected soldiers and scientists are allowed to set foot there. According to the International Antarctic Treaty, ships are prohibited from traveling south of the 60th parallel. To put it in perspective, it’s like banning settlement or sailing north of Stockholm in the Northern Hemisphere!
The Strict Antarctic Treaty
The Antarctic Treaty ensures that no one can freely access Antarctica beyond 60 degrees latitude. Most “Antarctic tours” only involve short summer trips to the Antarctic Peninsula before returning.
During summer, the coastal ice melts, making brief visits possible. But nobody crosses or circumnavigates Antarctica during these trips.
The Harsh Conditions of Antarctica
Antarctica is the only continent with an average elevation of 4,000 meters, high enough to cause altitude sickness for the unprepared. The air pressure at these heights is low, leading to oxygen deficiency, weakness, and insomnia. Even seasoned visitors struggle to adapt, and no one can ever fully acclimate to Antarctica’s extreme environment.
Scientific Research Stations
There are around 50 research stations in Antarctica, but most close during the harsh winter months. Only four operate year-round: Vostok, Amundsen-Scott, Concordia, and Dome Fuji.
Even in winter, these stations host a maximum of 12 people. So yes, it’s pretty desolate if you think about it.
Satellite Myths and The Great Ice Wall
Interestingly, there are no full-size photographs of Antarctica—only computer-generated images exist. Satellites reportedly don’t fly over Antarctica, which adds to the mystery.
Some flat-Earth theorists argue that if polar sun phenomena (24-hour daylight during summer) didn’t occur in Antarctica, it would be proof that we’re being deceived about Earth’s shape.
What Do Scientists Really Do There?
Despite its inaccessibility, thousands of tourists visit Antarctica during the summer, and entire temporary towns are built to support them. But most people there are focused on maintaining living conditions for the scientists.
And what do these scientists do? They study snow and ice. While that sounds critical, similar research could arguably be conducted in Siberia, Yakutsk, or even the Arctic—much closer and less mysterious.
Military and Resource Mysteries
Bringing any weapons to Antarctica is strictly forbidden, except for flare guns and knives. Even peaceful nuclear weapons are banned. No flora or fauna are allowed to be introduced, and this “uninhabited land” is surprisingly well-guarded.
Curiously, Weddell Sea alone reportedly holds twice as much oil as Saudi Arabia. Yet, it’s peculiar that no one seems interested in exploiting this.
Questions That Remain
Antarctica is declared a land without ownership, but if that’s true, who enforces the ban on crossing the 60th parallel? And why?
For now, Antarctica remains shrouded in mystery—leaving us with more questions than answers.
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