Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Britain to Claim Antarctic Seabed

Bid follows this summer's Arctic territory scramble

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 17, 2007 9:28 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Britain will submit a claim to the UN for 386,000 square miles of Antarctica, its foreign office said today, joining the international race to grab a piece of the mineral- and oil-rich territory as global warming makes it more accessible. The move violates a 1959 treaty, which Britain signed, that blocks new claims other than for scientific research, but it's based on proximity to the British Antarctic Territory, which was claimed in 1908 and contains two British scientific stations.

Argentina and Chile are among those likely to make competing claims on the territory in question, though it's considered too deep to drill now. The Guardian revealed last month that the UK is pursuing other claims near the Bay of Biscay, Ascension Island, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, and Scotland.

This photo provided by the journal Science shows iceberg W-86 in December 2005 in the Weddell Sea, off one of the coasts of Antarctica. Britain will claim 368,000 square miles adjacent its existing territory in Antarctica. (AP Photo/Henry A. Ruhl)
This photo provided by the journal Science shows iceberg W-86 in December 2005 in the Weddell Sea, off one of the coasts of Antarctica. Britain will claim 368,000 square miles adjacent its existing territory...   (Associated Press)
Antarctica.
Antarctica.   (KRT Photos)
The HMS Endurance in Antarctica. Britain is planning to submit a claim to the UN for 368,000 square miles of Antarctic seabed.
The HMS Endurance in Antarctica. Britain is planning to submit a claim to the UN for 368,000 square miles of Antarctic seabed.   (Getty Images)
Penguins.
Penguins.   (KRT Photos)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

The British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Territory, as explained by the British government
British Foreign Office

A non-governmental perspective with chronology of claims
Worldstatesmen.org

CIA Factbook map of territorial claims
Central Intelligence Agency

World • Green

 
climate change • oil • gas • United Kingdom • Antarctica • sovereignty • natural resources • mineral resources • Britain • natural gas • poles

More Newser Stories

Israel's Natural-Gas Find Is Biggest in 10 Years

Oil Tycoon Kicks Off Energy Campaign

WWII Mines Block Egypt's Access to Oil

US Drilling Deals Spark New Fears for Polar Bears

Brits Debate Eco-Wisdom of Biofuels
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne