Antarctica Ice Wall Claims, the Antarctic Treaty and Natural Resources

First thing a lot of people say is, "Where's the edge?" Well, look at this map where Antarctica is a 360-degree ice barrier that holds the water in. These ice walls are real, and they stand 150 feet above the surface of the water.

Then you need to understand that there is no independent access to Antarctica.

Average people can only go there on a guided tour.

It has no towns, no cities, and no permanent residences.

What's past the 150-foot ice wall is anyone's guess.

How far the ice extends, how it terminates, and what exists beyond it. The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 by 12 nations and more later on, states that Antarctica is for peaceful purposes only. No military activities, just scientific research and government exploration.

Expeditions by any party must be discussed in advance.

It's the longest and most successful treaty between nations.

The treaty also states that there are ships, stations, and equipment to ensure compliance of the treaty. Sounds like military activity to me.

We've found enough coal within 180 miles of the South Pole in a great, uh, range of mountains that's not covered with snow, enough to supply the whole world for quite a while.

Well- Uh, that's, that's the coal. Now, there's evidence of, um, other, many other minerals.

Uh, we're pretty sure there's oil. Now, that coal shows the bottom of the world, now by far the coldest spot in the world. Where that coal is gets 100 below zero in the winter.

Well- It was once tropical. So, uh, we think there's oil there, and there's evidence, probably uranium there.

Is it any secret? Is there uranium there?

That would be the only thing that would be practical to, uh, actually go after, I suppose. Everything else would be economically, uh, unfeasible, wouldn't it?

Well, as we recklessly expend our resources, the time will come when we can, we'll have to go after that stuff down there.

Well, um- You know, I, I avoided what you said about a uranium.

I'm not sure about that. I don't wanna have the world fighting over the Antarctic.

Admiral, is there a competition among other nations to try to get information about, uh, Antarctica and possibly to secure some of these resources?

Well, uh, yes. Uh, there now several nations very much interested.

Russia is interested tremendously, that I'm sure of.

Australia has an expedition down there. The Argentine, the Chile, New Zealand, Britain, and so on. Now, you can understand those people down there being, uh, interested because they live down there, the New Zealanders, the Argentinians, the Chileans,

and the Australians. And so, uh, we, uh, we don't do much about claiming anything.

Admiral, you, uh- Do we- ... make it sound a little crowded.

Uh, uh, are, are, are there that many expeditions now there or en route there? Ex- Uh, well, you know, as I said, it's the most peaceful place in the world, but I don't think it will be for long because of this intense interest on the part of, uh,

of other nations and this nation. Well, Admiral