Why Chile Claims Part of Antarctica as Chilean Territory
One of the thing that surprised me during my stay in Chile was that the news would show the weather forecast for Antarctica.
The reason for this is that Chile claims a piece of Antarctica as Chilean territory. So naturally, they would report the weather for it just as they would any other part of the country.
Territory Claimed
The Chilean Antarctic Territory covers 1,236,000 km² and stretches south of the 60th parallel down to the South Pole.
Chilean Settlement
Chile has a permanent village, Villa Las Estrellas, which averages about 100 residents year around. This village has a church, school, post office, and bank, among other services.
History of the Claim
Wikipedia offers an interesting insight into why Chile holds firm to its claim:
According to the Chilean argument, its claim to the Antártica Chilena Province is as old as Chile itself. The Tordesilhas Line established a west/east division of colonial territories between Portugal and Spain. On the first organization of the new conquered territories, Charles V, ruler of the Spanish Empire assigned to Pedro Sancho de la Hoz control over Terra Australis, which included the Southern part of South America, Tierra del Fuego Archipelago, and all southern undiscovered territories (Terra Australis Ignota). This gobernation eventually merged with other territories in the Captaincy General of Chile.
Disputed Claim
Chile’s Antarctic claim is disputed by many international countries, some of which also claim parts of Antarctica.
Chile was an original signer of the Antarctic Treaty establishing international standards for regulating Antarctica.
Posted May 13th, 2009 in History.
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For us chileans, Chile extends to the south pole. I am the author of the map “territorio chileno antartico” for wiki commons (public domain). I was in Antarctica in 1989 when a was 16, for me it was the beatyful and wondelful part of my country ever. Nice website about Chile!
December 16, 2010
@Giovanni – Thanks for creating a great map of the Chilean territory. I haven’t been to Antarctica yet, but would love to visit!
December 16, 2010
This another living proof of the irrational Claim of the chilean. According with the Antartic Treaty no country is allowed to make territorial claims. If they obey the treaties as they praise themselves, this is a contradiction and Flagrant violation of such a treaty. For many years since their independence Chileans have lived very unhappy with their share of territory in the continental South america. That explain why under the direction of Great Britain they started an expansion war under bogus claims and stole territory from Bolivia and Peru. Ever since Bolivia got land-looked. Now in this Century consistent with their COUNTRY_PROJECT they continue with this irrational claim of Antartic Territory as we all know there is no such a thing TERITORIO ANTARTICO CHILENO.
March 1, 2013
Article 4 – The treaty does not recognize, dispute, nor establish territorial sovereignty claims; no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force;
That’s what the Treaty says. It doesn’t recognize nor deny any claims, so all countries at the time of signing are free to keep pretending to sustain their claims, as long as they don’t try to enforce them on third parties.
It’s worth to note that not only Chile, but also Argentina and England have a “claim” over portions of the territory shown on the map on this page. I am unsure if other countries do too.
April 7, 2013