West Antarctica Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
part of Antarctica that lies within the Western Hemisphere
About West Antarctica
As with the rest of the continent, this area is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, which seeks to protect the fragile environment, forbids military use, and sets aside national claims. Thus, various nations own and operate bases here and have hypothetical claims to territory which they waive. References to nations on this page should be understood accordingly. The unique feature of West Antarctica is that one large area, Marie Byrd Land, is so utterly desolate that no nation has ever sought to claim it. It's believed that East Antarctica has been continuously ice-clad for 15 million years, while West Antarctica has repeatedly shed then regained its ice over climatic cycles. There are signs that it may be about to lose its ice again, with global repercussions. The cause is not air temperatur
West Antarctica Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: