Chilean Antarctic Territory

The Chilean Antarctic Territory, or Chilean Antarctica, is a part of West Antarctica and nearby islands claimed by Chile. It includes the area south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes 53°W and 90°W. This region overlaps with claims made by the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom.

The territory covers important places such as the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula (called O'Higgins Land in Chile), and islands like Alexander Island, Charcot Island, and Ellsworth Land. Its official boundaries were set by a Chilean government decree in 1940.

Chile manages this huge area as part of its country, even though it is far away. The Chilean Antarctic Territory makes up over 60% of Chile's total land area, but it is managed by a municipality in Puerto Williams, located in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Chile's control over this territory follows international rules set by the Antarctic Treaty from 1961, which means all activities there must be peaceful and no new land claims can be made. Chile currently operates 13 bases in Antarctica, including four that are permanent.

History

Chilean Antarctica in colonial times

Many years ago, mapmakers and European explorers wondered about a huge land far to the south, called the Terra Australis Incognita. This land was thought to be somewhere south of the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego.

In 1494, Spain and Portugal signed a treaty called the Treaty of Tordesillas. This treaty divided newly discovered lands between the two countries. The areas Chile claims in Antarctica today were given to Spain by this treaty. Later, in 1534, Spain divided its South American lands into three parts. One of these parts, called New León, included lands far to the south, near the Strait of Magellan.

In 1539, a new area called Terra Australis was added. This included lands south of the Strait of Magellan, including Tierra del Fuego and lands even farther south. In 1554, a leader named Pedro de Valdivia asked to give these southern lands to a man named Jeronimo de Alderete. After Valdivia died, Alderete became the leader of Chile and claimed these lands for Chile.

Chilean stories and maps from long ago show that Chile believed it owned parts of Antarctica. In 1603, a Spanish sailor named Gabriel de Castilla sailed south and may have seen parts of Antarctica, though we don’t have clear proof.

19th century

After countries in the Americas became independent, they kept the lands that belonged to Spain. This included Chile’s claims to parts of Antarctica.

In 1815, an Argentine sailor named William Brown sailed near Antarctica and thought he saw land, though he wasn’t sure.

In 1818, Argentina gave rights to hunt animals in Antarctica. Between 1819 and 1821, a Russian explorer named Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen sailed near Antarctica but didn’t land.

In 1819, a British sailor rediscovered islands near Antarctica, and an American sailor saw parts of the Antarctic peninsula the same year. In 1821, an American hunter said he stepped on land he believed was part of Antarctica.

In 1823, an explorer named James Weddell sailed to a place now called the Weddell Sea. In 1831, a Chilean leader wrote about Chile’s rights to lands near Antarctica.

In 1843, Chile built a settlement near the Strait of Magellan. In 1856, Chile and Argentina signed a treaty recognizing each other’s borders. Chilean companies began hunting whales and seals in Antarctic waters, needing permission from the Chilean government.

20th century

In the early 1900s, more people became interested in Antarctica. Some expeditions asked Chile for permission to travel there.

In 1902, Chile gave mining rights to an area near Antarctica. Starting in 1903, Chilean whalers began working on Deception Island, led by a Norwegian captain sailing under the Chilean flag.

In 1906, Chile approved rules for a whaling company to work in Antarctica. More whaling companies started, with many workers living on Deception Island during the summer.

In 1908, the United Kingdom claimed lands in Antarctica between certain longitudes and south of 50°S. Later, this claim was changed to lands south of 58°S, and then to 60°S.

In 1914, a British explorer named Ernest Shackleton began a journey to cross Antarctica. His ship got stuck in ice and was destroyed. Shackleton and his crew reached Elephant Island. With help from the Chilean navy ship Yelcho, they were rescued and arrived safely in Punta Arenas.

Sovereignty and the Antarctic Treaty System

Chile began making claims to a part of Antarctica in 1940. Leaders organized a group to decide the borders based on geography and history. These borders were made official later that year. Chile’s claim was also based on older Spanish claims passed to Chile long ago.

Other countries, like Argentina and the United Kingdom, also made claims to parts of Antarctica. In 1959, Chile signed an important agreement called the Antarctic Treaty with many other nations. This treaty says Antarctica should only be used for peaceful purposes, like science. It also puts a pause on all country claims, meaning no one can enforce their borders there while the treaty lasts.

Main article: Antarctic Treaty System

Geography and climate

Land elevation and features

The Chilean Antarctic Territory covers an area of 1,250,257 km². In some places, the ice covering the land is more than 1,200 meters thick.

This territory is mainly in West Antarctica, which includes the Antarctic Peninsula, called O'Higgins Land in Chile. The mountains of the Antarctandes, which continue from the Andes mountains, form the spine of this peninsula. Mount Hope is the highest mountain in the Antarctandes, reaching 3,239 meters tall. The Antarctandes divide O'Higgins Land into three areas: the western slope, the central plateau, and the eastern slope.

To the southwest of the Antarctic Peninsula are some of the highest peaks in Antarctica, including the Vinson Massif at 4,897 meters, Mount Tyree at 4,852 meters, and Mount Shinn at 4,800 meters.

Scientists from Centro de Estudios Científicos in Valdivia, Chile discovered a subglacial lake called the Lake CECs in January 2014. This lake is about 18 km² in area and lies 2.6 km under the ice. There is a idea that life might exist there, developed in very isolated conditions.

Climate

Coastal areas north of the Antarctic Peninsula and in the South Shetland Islands have a subarctic climate or tundra, meaning the warmest month's temperature is above 0 °C. The rest of the territory has a polar climate. Precipitation is rare and decreases toward the South Pole, creating conditions like a polar desert.

Population

The Antártica Commune had 150 people living there in 2012. These were 54 civilians and 96 military workers, mostly from the Chilean Air Force and their families. They lived mainly in a town called Villa Las Estrellas, which has a school, hospital, and other services.

In 1984, the first baby born in this area was Juan Pablo Camacho Martino. Since then, two more Chilean babies were born there: Gisella Cortés Rojas in 1984 and Ignacio Miranda Lagunas in 1985. Today, tourism to the area has grown a lot, with many visitors arriving by airplane or cruise ship from Punta Arenas or Ushuaia.

Bases, stations, shelters and settlements

Due to the Antarctic Peninsula's geography, the Chilean Antarctic Territory has some of the best places for people to live in Antarctica.

Chile has four bases that stay open all year and five more that open only during the summer (December to March), along with four shelters for short stays.

The biggest settlement is on King George Island at Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva. This base has an airstrip, a weather center, and a small village called Villa Las Estrellas. It helps other countries with their science work on the island.

The Chilean Antarctic Institute runs the Profesor Julio Escudero Base on King George Island, which is Chile's main science center in Antarctica.

The Chilean Navy helps with travel and support for science work in the area. In 2023, they got a new icebreaking ship called Almirante Viel to help with this. Navy workers also help keep things safe and support Chile's interests there.

Since 1995, the navy has also helped the Mendel Polar Station of the Czech Republic. Up to four Chilean scientists work there with Czech partners.

Chilean Antarctic Bases

The biggest settlement is on King George Island with Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva linked to the village of Villa Las Estrellas. This village has a town hall, a hotel, a school, a hospital, a post office, and a bank. There is also an airport called Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Aerodrome.

Nearby is the Professor Julio Escudero Base, run by the Chilean Antarctic Institute. It is Chile's main science spot in Antarctica.

Captain Arturo Prat Base on Greenwich Island is Chile's oldest Antarctic base, opened in 1947. It used to belong to the navy but now the local government runs it. It was closed for a while but opened again in 2008.

The only base on the main Antarctic land is Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, opened in 1948. It is the main town for the area.

Seasonal bases

• Estación Polar Científica Conjunta "Glaciar Unión" is in the Ellsworth Mountains on Union Glacier. It includes two smaller bases and has an airport.
• Dr. Guillermo Mann Base on Livingston Island is used in summer for weather and nature studies.
• Luis Risopatrón Base on Robert Island is used in summer for earth and life science studies.
• Julio Ripamondi Base on Ardley Island studies earth science, nature, and penguins.
• González Videla Antarctic Base on the mainland was used until 2024. It is now closed but may open again.
• Yelcho Base on Doumer Island opened again in 2015.
• Collins Base on King George Island holds two people in summer for science work.