Why So Many Countries Claim Antarctica But Can’t Do Anything With It

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Antarctica is not like every other continent. Aside from its extreme cold and vast ice sheet, it's also the only major piece of land that has never had a human settlement rise up on it. And because of this, as it was explored in the early 1900s, countries began making wild claims on it, claims that look more like a "pie chart" than actual national borders. In this video, we'll go through the history of exploration of the continent, Antarctica's extreme geography, who claims the continent today, and why those same countries actually can't do much with the continent despite those claims.
Most stock footage is acquired from www.storyblocks.com.
Some stock footage from Mikhail Nilov of Pexels.
Animation and production assistance provided by DH Designs (needahittman.com).

[@davidvick749]

I worked for 16 months in Antarctica.

[@FXwashere]

Fun fact: Antarctica wasn't always the ice desert it is today. Many million years ago, it used to be a paradise of lush forests.

[@mjf1036]

That is interesting. My SUV must have caused it to freeze over.

[@johnvoelker4345]

Antarctica froze 33 million years ago Greenland froze 2.6 million years ago dinosaurs roamed a tropical Antarctica Greenland was covered in forest

[@erinrising2799]

and it used to be attached to Australia

[@johnvoelker4345]

@@erinrising2799 right used to be part of Pangaea

[@erinrising2799]

@@johnvoelker4345 and after the break up of Pangaea. They were still together and formed the supercontinent of Gondwana

[@nixcails]

Antarctica has always interested me especially as I live near the Captain Scott Monument about 2 miles away in Devonport next to the Naval Base that serves as the homeport for the British Antarctic Survey Fleet. The base regularly has the Red and White Fleet in and I know people who work on the vessels. The RNAS (Royal Navy Antarctic Survey) Fleet is a strong employer. The oddity of the British Antarctic Territory is it is a territory of the Crown rather than an actual part of the UK and significantly larger than most of Crown Realms put together (only Canada exceeds it in size). Technically whilst things like fishing, nuclear weapons and other industrial items are banned the loopholes are often got round in the name of research and global security. One of the major reasons for the 1982 Falkland Islands conflict (Guerra de Las Malvinas) apart from a political distraction technique for both the Argentine President and UK Prime Minister at the time. The big thing was fishing and minerals rights in the UK territories waters that are around the former whaling station islands OUTSIDE of the Antarctic exclusion zone. This generate revenues for the countries with these islands. It's also an unkept secret that NATO and other world navies use the South Atlantic/ Great Southern Ocean/ South Pacific to base their Nuclear capable Nuclear powered submarines. If official documentation is they were on patrol in those Oceans their is little evidence to prove they were there.

[@altarique123]

I love geography a lot . Studying geography when I was in high school helped me travel 73 countries with low cost. Love 💕 your video from Buffalo New York

[@yesid17]

great video as always! interested to see how this plays out-many of those countries aren't exactly known for honoring their treaties.

[@lesley4215]

Thank you! I am totally enamored with Antarctica and love watching the research shows about it. In this video you have answered some of my long held questions!!❤

[@maxsager139]

Seeing you from Argentina.

[@hillbilly4895]

And Elon still thinks inhabiting Mars is a good idea...

[@yazanfares2006]

Nice video

[@mjf1036]

Looking at your map it is hard to understand how Cook missed it?

[@ChaosMechanica]

Right? Isn't there a tip of land he shouldn't not only seen, but crossed?

[@georgewashington7982]

Ye try navigating with nothing but stars and a shitty compass guiding you back then lol

[@pandoraeeris7860]

Antarctica (the Land Down-Down Under) is owned by the Grays, while the Arctic is owned by the Greens.

[@tomahawk1911]

Good video, Geoff! Thanks. When you remarked something about protecting the ecosystem, scientific research, I couldn’t help ignorantly thinking, what ecosystem? What research? What useful information can be gleaned from that miserable ice desert? Throwing good money after bad, to me. Chile and Peru can have it.

[@Azurethewolf168]

There’s a lot of stuff you just can’t see normally as a casual observer

[@Jonathan_001]

🇨🇱 Chile is the closest country and claims the entire peninsula as a continuation of its southernmost territory.

[@Mark_Wheeler]

Geoff, you need to sync your sound up with the video. The video lags slightly behind the sound. Otherwise, great video!

[@Vic-ok2pp]

How about a look at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. I was there in 1979 or 80 and it was quite interesting.

[@markleon411]

I doubt that Australia would ever allow any kind of mining on its controlled territory.

[@user-xl2ir1nv9t]

Nope. It's for purely for scientific community and shared research as a pristine continent

[@harrier331]

Thats a joke right?

[@user-xl2ir1nv9t]

@@harrier331 nope anyone that breaks that rule Gets a viral weapon sent to kull them or discipline them through Decimation

[@user-xl2ir1nv9t]

@@harrier331 we really didn't or don't care about 1m dead Americans, Russians or anybody else That was only a demonstration

[@user-xl2ir1nv9t]

@@harrier331 I will confirm That is not a joke

[@kaoz250f1]

Apparently the antarctic ice sheet has been growing on average over time. Versus the northern ice cap melting

[@stevepettersen3283]

The USA already got the most valuable item from Antarctica: a Stargate!

[@mattf3873]

The rush to get the natural resources from there is going to be nasty

[@CaySlay4211]

I heard thousands of years ago Antarctica was green and warm

[@kaoz250f1]

So was Greenland. Apparently there were prehistoric crocodile fossils found there

[@user-xl2ir1nv9t]

No one country owns Antarctica

[@leoprg5330]

Where is the slice of pie of Czechia or Poland? If both France an Norway claim a good chunk of Antarctica, why others can't?

[@garvinbenjamin7124]

Do one about Trinidad and Tobago

[@pauljensen4773]

5:55 you said 6,800 sqmiles but wrote 68,000 sqmiles. Which one is it?

[@Phuqem]

Ross Ice shelf 6800 or 68000 miles

[@raphlvlogs271]

why was the Australian claimed area separated in to 2 parts by the much smaller French claimed area?

[@AnthonySmith-wc8ky]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumont_d%27Urville_Station

[@Azurethewolf168]

Cause France wanted something and decided to cut Australia off

[@Adamant456]

antartica should be divided between the southern countries.

[@Who-rx5ky]

That doesn't remove any of the current claimants since they all possess territory in the southern hemisphere.

[@Adamant456]

@@Who-rx5ky not their mainlands tho

[@Who-rx5ky]

@@Adamant456 it's still their lands and they place them in the southern hemisphere.

[@Adamant456]

@@Who-rx5ky colonial lands making those countries unethical colonizers. Colonialism should have been terminated a long time ago

[@Who-rx5ky]

@Adamant456 those lands aren't colonies anymore but integral territories that have chosen to remain with their respective nations.

[@Philip-ze7uh]

14 countries have signed a treaty ..they own it ..

[@ahmedmaow5710]

Louisville Kentucky next

[@davee6604]

We are looking to inhabit Mars and Antarctica is too inhospitable? LOL

[@eugenestrawberry1835]

Metallica had a concert on Antarctica.

[@MauriceAleexander]

Really??? Where exactly

[@enmanuel961]

3rd comment from Dominican Republic 🎉🇩🇴

[@burntrubber7458]

Thousands of years not millions.

[@elcharquican123]

Wrong, the first ike was Gabriel de Castilla from Spain in arly 1600s

[@danielbirchfield8552]

So you're telling me its a FROZEN conflict HAHAHAHAA send help

[@TM-tw1py]

Within global warming, Antarctica will be in the mid 80's F during summers as early as 2033. The perfect resort location for beaches and yachting!

[@davidgreen7392]

Certainly round... round around the flat edge ;)

[@davidgreen7392]

Geoff, did a Gov provide a script?

[@marym7104]

Within 43 minutes!

[@Reflextor]

The Antarctic Peninsula is property of Chile and the United Kingdom. The western part is Chilean and the eastern part is British. 🇨🇱🛡️🇬🇧

[@zugzug2849]

It will thaw one day a few thousand years from now and people will continue their migration in this realm as they follow the sun’s procession over 26,000 year cycle. Who knows, there may even be enduring monuments like that of Teotihuacán or Giza. It’s too bad we’ll never know the truth.

[@robertsudedeth1317]

It< makes sense, BTC and crypto is off helping to regulate, rather than pretend it won't ever happen. The big institutions getting in is the catalyst that will launch us into the stratosphere. Most people don't like change but after the change is made they grow used to it and it becomes a non issue usually because their fears never materialize. The projects that initiated the process of regulation have not been ruined, they got involved in setting guidelines and helping the regulators understand the crypto space. I’d get involved more knowing that I have made over 8.2 btc and 12ETH from day-trade with *Elizabeth* *Warran* *Jacob* Crypto in few weeks

[@scottmichael9670]

How can I be a beneficiary of her trading program?

[@beaufrancois8781]

The internet is filled with so many useful information about Elizabeth Warren Jacob that's how i connect with her too

[@noahmadlaina1412]

Knowledge still remains the greatest asset to succeed, I'm a great beneficiary of her signals, and I've been able to scale from 3 btc to 12.9 btc

[@soniaalvarez2265]

Mrs Elizabeth Warren is the strategic trader that manages my account. She's really a professional.

[@michaelwclark5097]

Hey Geoff, there is more ice on Antarctica now than when climate alarmists started talking about warming.

[@68404]

And sea levels have actually dropped slightly over the last 150 years.

[@MCarrick-ss7xc]

I own it I lease to the space Force North is easier to watch, south is a blind spot.

[@grayrecluse7496]

You should research, the earth is cooling

[@user561euro]

A U S T R A L I A owns A N T A R C T I C A

[@user-xl2ir1nv9t]

Nope we make sure it's independence

[@Sudip_Sarkar_Charles_Edwards]

Who owns it? The scientists.

[@novemvisiata6886]

Why there is china now 5station

[@TLM860]

I plan to buy a vacation home here 😂

[@MinecraftAxMako]

Bro earth looks suck 0:01

[@demolitiondan1188]

Another fun fact; I’m actually the owner of Antarctica…..😉

[@RFE812]

Does that mean you own Mount Vinson too?

[@BDR724]

Cool

[@annmaryroyroy9483]

I dont know who gave them oermission to own antratica lol ... Antratica is noones okie 😅

[@patmcclung7205]

Go Timbers! RCTID

[@bishal-max]

Uk 🇬🇧❤️🇬🇧

[@S3aCa1mRa1n]

France has no right to claim it honestly for Argentina and Chile it makes sense because they’re the closest to it.

[@Jv-ob8ct]

@@mapache-ehcapam horrible argumento, borra tu comentario por favor

[@anuvisraa5786]

FRACE AND BRITAIN USE THE ARCHIPELAGOS THAT THEY CONTROL AS A CLAIM BASIS

[@HW-sw5gb]

I mean no one contests France’s Indian Ocean possessions, and they are the closest territories

[@know-body2519]

I don't know enough about Antarctica, or Admiral Byrd's mission, nor do know enough about the Reclamation Act, nor why Florida insurance companies are jacking-up premiums, if not dropping coverage. No. I don't know what would happen if it melts, and all of this is unrelated.

[@CarolR-zm2ll]

👍

[@revinhatol]

Uruguay, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador: Allow us to introduce ourselves.

[@user-pi7ud6ip8d]

Great content but 600 years!!!!!!!!!!!....

[@marym7104]

763th viewer of this video!

[@VaxtorT]

The bulk of Antarctica's Ice Sheets were layed down rapidly following the Biblical Flood sometime between 4500 and 5000 years ago.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

There is a 1988 book, Catastrophism and the Old Testament, by Donald Patton (no longer in print) that lays out a comprehensive theory about polar ice and Mars, based upon scripture and secular writings. It's detailed and absolutely fascinating.

[@VaxtorT]

@@watchmanonthewall14 Thanks. I'll search to see if I can find a copy. "Is Genesis History and AIG" provide good explanations, as well.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

@@VaxtorT I hope you can find a copy. If you were my next door neighbor, I would lend it to you, as I have my copy in storage. God bless you, sir.

[@joeshmo114]

Not a continent, but an ice wall surrounding our level plane Earth realm. Any unauthorized access below 60 degree South latitude is strictly forbidden.

[@ct.widget2847]

Flat planes are measured in linear and area units. Spherical surfaces are measured in degrees of longitude and latitude. Hmmm....😅

[@joeshmo114]

@@byt4fse2 Welcome to reality.

[@VaxtorT]

Oh yes....trust the scientists. Okaaaaay.

[@boio_]

yeah please go on can't wait till the US finally enters it's BIG dark ages and shatters over collective dissociation and relative individualisitic truth tearing appart the social fabric and any notion of unity, it'll make history books all the funnier

[@jadawin10]

I stopped watching this video and put a thumbs down when I saw that the geographic data is given in "miles". Only 0.5% of the earth's population (USA) uses this obsolete system...

[@_1COR15.1-4]

Its an ice wall

[@jaycweingardt11]

Less climate doomerism please.

[@S3aCa1mRa1n]

can you expect that much from him he looks like a liberal NPC elf 😂

[@OC-CPA]

Facts don't care about your feelings, snowflake.

[@boio_]

can't wait till florida disappears off the map

[@jaycweingardt11]

@@boio_ you're going to be waiting a while, don't hold your breath.

[@corruptedpoison1]

Every single video on this channel subtly engages in climate doomer talk. Blatant political leaning every single time.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Definitely. Geoff must have a mad crush on Gretta Thunburg.

[@OC-CPA]

Climate change is only "political" if you're a compete moron.

[@BDR724]

Poop