Icebreaker sets sail on China's 34th Antarctic expedition

China's research icebreaker Xuelong set sail from Shanghai early Wednesday beginning the country's 34th Antarctic expedition.

Antarctic capacity will be boosted: China

China published its first white paper on its Antarctic explorations on Monday, pledging to boost its capabilities in the exploration and study of the continent.

Australian icebreaker runs aground in Antarctica

The Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis has run aground in Antarctica during a mission to resupply the Mawson Station after it broke free of its moorings in a blizzard.

New Zealand leads 33-nation protest against Japanese whaling plan

The New Zealand government has led a joint diplomatic protest over Japan's decision to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean, Prime Minister and Acting Foreign Minister John Key said Monday.

Australia Launches New Protest Against Japanese Whale Hunt

Australia is threatening to take legal action against Japan over its resumption of its controversial whale hunt in the Antarctic Ocean.

Japan whaling fleet will sail to Antarctic Ocean Tuesday

Japan said it will dispatch a whaling fleet to the Antarctic Tuesday after a one-year suspension, defying international criticism and a UN legal ruling that the "research" expedition is a commercial hunt in disguise.

Australia's Tasmania, China agree to 'work together' on Antarctic expeditions

Australia's Tasmania will provide technical support for future Chinese Antarctic expeditions after delegates from the small Australian state reached an accord with Chinese officials on Thursday.

Russian-American expedition to study climatic changes in Arctic

A Russian-American expedition is sailing to the Arctic to study changes in the atmosphere, ice fields and waters of the Arctic Ocean. The Academician Tryoshnikov expedition vessel of the Russian Institute of Arctic and Antarctic Studies will leave the northern port of Arkhangelsk on Sunday.

Russian divers plan to reach 100-meter depth in Antarctica

An expedition to the Antarctica started out in Russia on Thursday with divers from the Republic of Tatarstan who plan to dive to a 100-meter depth near the Antarctic coast.

Who does Antarctica belong to?/Who has the right to Antarctic?

---

For half a century the question of who owns Antarctica has been frozen but it is showing signs of warming up.

Who has the right to Antarctic?

Next century may see replotting in the Antarctic. As soon as scientists find ways of extracting oil and gas from under layers of ice 1 kilometre thick, at least 30 countries will make claims on the sixth continent. At present scientists continue working on the southernmost continent where they mainly study the resource base.


Huge resources of oil and gas are hidden under the ice cover of the Antarctic. It is a proved fact but at present the development of these fields is too difficult and unprofitable. In addition, many countries are held back by the status of a continent. According to the treaty on the Antarctic, no one has the right either to draw state borders there or develop mineral deposits.

China begins journey to South Pole

---  

A Chinese research group has arrived at the Antarctic to start the 29th scientific expedition, with the goal of establishing China’s fourth base in the region.
Thinking about the South Pole, images of furry little animals, big chunks of iceberg and imposing auroras may spring to mind.
The reality on the ground, however, is quite different.