On the south pole, Antarctica is a land covered with a layer of ice. It is a land not owned by any country. It has no population other than scientist and researchers, though people can visit Antarctica cruises.

While many explorers where close to discovering the continent, the land was not sighted until 17 November 1820 by Nathaniel Palner. After the end of First World War, many countries raced to reach the South Pole first and also beginning the race for territory in Antarctica.

Many countries tried to claim their territories and the first country to make their claim on antarctica was United Kingdom in 1908. United Kingdom laid their claim on the basis of Falkland Islands Administration which administered Falkland Islands since 1843 and later claim was expanded to Graham Land, the South Orkney Islands and the South Shetlands.

New Zealand made a claim in 1923 due to Britian. James Clark Ross took over the territory he founded in 1841 on behalf on Britian and Governor General of New Zealand was appointed as the Governor of Ross Dependency though United Kingdom never transferred the land to New Zealand.

The next country to make the claim was France in 1924. France’s claim was in regard of the exploration and naming of a coastline made by french explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville in 1840.

Fun Fact: The coast discovered by Jules Dumont d’Urville was named after his wife, Adèle Dorothée Dumont d’Urville. The species of penguin discovered on Adélie Land was named after the coast (indirectly named after his wife) thus called Adélie penguin.  

Five years later, Norway made a claim in 1929 for Queen Maud Land for its whaling interest. The first expedition to the South Pole was led by Ronald Amundsen on the basis of which Norway extended their claim to South Pole in 2015.

Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is the part of territory claimed by Australia, consisting of 42% of Antarctica. Australia claims were also due to British because the British Government gifted territories in Antarctica in 1933 as they were of no use.

From South America, Chile and Argentina asked for territories in 1940 and 1942, respectively. Both countries are closest to the continent. Their claims were made based on the Treaty of Tordesillas signed in June 1494 under which Spain and Portugal would divide newly discovered territories between two countries according to the line running from pole.

The west side of the line would belong to Spain and the right would be under Portugal. Of course, the treaty was not recognized by other countries.

Fun Fact: Argentina and Chile had a ‘baby race’ to prove their claim on Antarctica. Argentina sent a woman when she was pregnant so the baby can be born on the land and as a response Chile directly sent a couple to conceive a baby in Antarctica.

Before any other country could make a claim, Antarctica Treaty was proposed by United States and signed on 1 December 1959 in Washington. All the seven nations that made the claim along with United Nation and Soviet Union signed the Treaty. It effectively stopped from any country to occupy territory in Antarctica and till now it is signed by 58 countries.

The treaty restricted the population in Antarctica and making it a land only for penguins, polar bears with some people staying for scientific purpose. 

Citation

(June 2025). Who Owns Antarctica?. Chimu Blog

Scully, T. The Development of the Antarctic Treaty System. Atsummit50.org

The Antarctica Treaty. Secretariat of Antarctica Treaty. https://www.ats.aq/e/antarctictreaty.html

(February 2016). How a Baby Staked Argentina’s Claim on Antarctica. Atlas Obscura