The territory was formed on 3 March 1962, although the UK's claim to this portion of the Antarctic dates back toletters patent of 1908 and 1917. The area now covered by the Territory includes three regions which, before 1962, were administered by the British as separate dependencies of theFalkland Islands:Graham Land, theSouth Orkney Islands, and theSouth Shetland Islands. The United Kingdom's claim to the region has been suspended since theAntarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, Article 4 of which states "No acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is in force shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica. No new claim, or enlargement of an existing claim, to territorial sovereignty, shall be asserted while the present Treaty is in force." Most countries do not recognise territorial claims in Antarctica.[3][failed verification] The United Kingdom hasratified the Antarctic treaty.
The territory is inhabited by the staff of research and support stations operated and maintained by theBritish Antarctic Survey and other organisations, and stations of Argentina, Chile and other countries. There are no native inhabitants. In 2012, the southern part of the territory was namedQueen Elizabeth Land in honour ofQueen Elizabeth II.
In 1917, the wording of the claim was modified, so as to, among other things, unambiguously include all the territory in the sector stretching to theSouth Pole (thus encompassing all of the present-day British Antarctic Territory). The new claim covered "all islands and territories whatsoever between the 20th degree of west longitude and the50th degree of west longitude which are situated south of the 50th parallel of south latitude; and all islands and territories whatsoever between the 50th degree of west longitude and the 80th degree of west longitude which are situated south of the58th parallel of south latitude".[4]
The United Kingdom also claimedVictoria Land in 1841 andEnderby Land in 1930. However, all territory between 160°E and 45°E was transferred to Australia (which itself was part of the British Empire and transferred because of this) in 1933. In 1943, at the height ofWorld War II, the UK undertook a military operation known asOperation Tabarin to provide reconnaissance and meteorological information in the South Atlantic Ocean. This secret wartime project became the civilian Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey and later theBritish Antarctic Survey (BAS). BAS is responsible for most of the United Kingdom's scientific research in Antarctica. In the 1950s, theAntarctic Treaty was negotiated to demilitarise the region and retain Antarctica – defined as all land and ice shelves south of60°S latitude – for peaceful research purposes. The treaty was negotiated and signed in 1959, and came into effect in 1961.[5]
TheAntarctic Treaty, signed by all relevant regional claimants, does not in itself either recognise or dispute any territorial claims, leaving this matter to individual signatories.[3] Most of the world's countries do not recognise any national claims to Antarctica.[6]Australia,France,New Zealand,Norway and theUnited Kingdom, all of whom have territorial claims on the continent, mutually recognise each other's claims.[7] Argentina and Chile dispute the British claim, and have their own claims that overlap both Britain's and each other's (seeArgentine Antarctica andChilean Antarctic Territory).
Over 99 per cent of the territory's land surface is covered by a permanent ice sheet, up to about 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) thick.[10] The highest peak in BAT was thought to beMount Jackson, on the Antarctic Peninsula, at 3,184 metres (10,446 ft).[10] However, in 2017Mount Hope was calculated to be taller at 3,239 metres (10,627 ft).[11]
Many bird species, including seven species ofpenguin breed in the British Antarctic Territories. The British Antarctic Territories are also home to six species ofseals.[12]Other bird species, such as albatross and petrel, may reach the territory.
In May 2024, it was reported thatRussia had discovered extensiveoil andgas reserves in the Antarctic, with a significant portion found in areas claimed by the United Kingdom. The estimated reserves, totaling 511 billion barrels of oil, raise concerns about potential drilling in a region protected by the Antarctic Treaty, which prohibits mineral and oil developments. While the UK's Foreign Office has expressed trust in Russia's assurance of conducting scientific research, critics argue that Russia's activities resemble oil and gas prospecting rather than genuine scientific endeavors and questioned The Foreign Office's management of the United Kingdom's Antarctic interests.[13]
The British Antarctic Territory is administered by theForeign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). ACommissioner is appointed and is always the Director of the FCO's Overseas Territories Directorate.
The Territory has a full suite of laws and legal and postal administrations. Given the provisions of theAntarctic Treaty System, the Territory does not enforce its laws on foreign nations who maintain scientific bases within the Territory. It is self-financing, with income from the sale of postage stamps and income tax.
The territory is fully a part of the British Overseas Territories for nationality purposes. It is possible to holdBritish Overseas Territories citizenship (BOTC) by virtue of a connection with the territory. Additionally, since the relevant provisions of theBritish Overseas Territories Act 2002 came into force on 21 May 2002, a BOTC connected with the territory would also hold British citizenship.
Although this territory'simmigration laws would not allow fornaturalisation, a person born in the territory before 1983 would hold BOTC (and British citizenship) on that basis. British citizenship and BOTC would also extend to the first generation born overseas. SinceEmilio Palma was born in the Antarctic territories claimed by the UK prior to 1983, he automatically had British nationality at birth. Since his parents were both Argentine citizens and he was born at an Argentine base, he was automatically granted Argentine citizenship by the Argentine government.
Changes toBritish nationality law from 1 January 1983 mean that a child born in the territory can only gain BOTC and/or British citizenship if his/her father or mother holds BOTC and/or British citizenshipor if his/her father or mother is "ordinarily resident" in the territory in compliance with the relevant immigration legislation.[16] This effectively prevents any more children born in Argentine or Chilean bases within the area of the British claim being able to claim BOTC or British citizenship by virtue of being born within the territory.
Since 1996, the historic base atPort Lockroy on Goudier Island has been staffed by theUK Antarctic Heritage Trust during the Antarctic summer. Receiving about 10,000 visitors a year, it is one of the most visited sites on the continent. Visitors can tour the museum, buy souvenirs, post mail, and view the largegentoo penguin colony.[21] Argentine presence in the territory dates to the foundation of theOrcadas Base,South Orkney Islands, in 1903. A number of other nations maintain bases in the territory, many in the South Shetland Islands.[10]
Despite the lack of permanent inhabitants, the British Antarctic Territory issues its own postage stamps. While some are actually used by visiting tourists and resident scientists, the bulk are sold overseas to collectors. The first issue came in 1963, an engraved set with 15 values ranging from ½d to one pound, featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth overlooking various scenes of human activity in Antarctica. Several additional issues in the 1960s were followed by a decimalisation issue in 1971 produced by overprinting the 1963 stamps.
In 2008–2009, as part of the celebrations of the centenary of the 1908 British territorial claim, the British Antarctic Territory issued its first ever legal-tender coin.[22]
On 18 December 2012, theForeign and Commonwealth Office announced that the southern part of British Antarctic Territory has been named Queen Elizabeth Land in honour ofQueen Elizabeth II in herDiamond Jubilee year. The area, the southern third of the territory, has an area of about 437,000 square kilometres (169,000 sq mi) – almost twice the size of the United Kingdom – and is roughly triangular in shape, with theSouth Pole at one apex and with the20°W and80°W lines of longitude forming the eastern and western boundaries. The northern boundary is formed by theFilchner-Ronne Ice Shelf on the west and byCoats Land on the east.
The name "Queen Elizabeth Land" will be used in future on all British maps, but due to the unique status of Antarctica, it will be up to other countries to recognise the name if they see fit.[23] Argentina, which lays claim to part of the area, criticised the naming.[24]
24Claimed in 1908; territory formed 1962; overlaps portions of Argentine and Chilean claims, borders not enforced but claim not renounced under theAntarctic Treaty.
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