Written by Jane Rumble, Head of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Polar Regions Department and Deputy Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory. 2020 is an important year. It marks 200 years since the discovery of the Antarctic continent. Having dedicated over 16 years working on Antarctica I am still amazed by this unique region and…
The latest edition of the British Antarctic Territory Gazette was published today, 8 January 2020. This covers the period February to December 2019. This is an important record of all BAT legislation, orders, appointments. Read the latest Gazette in full
Written by Jennifer Freer, co-coordinator of the UKPN Antarctic Flags Initiative 2019 It is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue to be used forever for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord The Antarctic Treaty On 1 December 1959, 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty…
Marking 200 years since the discovery of Antarctica, the British Antarctic Territory is delighted to present this commemorative stamp set. Find out where to buy Since discovery, Antarctica has had a chequered past. Once news of these new lands was known, exploitation of its abundant seal population began almost immediately; later it was whalers that…
The British Antarctic Territory is delighted to mark the centenary of the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI). Find out where to buy The stamps illustrate the origins of SPRI and the Institute today. Founded in 1920, as part of the University of Cambridge, the Institute is the oldest international centre for polar research within a…
On Monday 18 November 2019, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), hosted a lecture marking 200 years since the discovery of land in Antarctica. Three speakers considered Antarctica’s history and its unique status as a continent reserved for peace and science. Camilla Nichol, Chief Executive of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust began proceedings, taking the…
Find out where to buy In July 2017 an area of floating ice shelf four times the size of London broke away from the Larsen Ice Shelf, within the British Antarctic Territory (BAT). Known officially as ‘A68’ is one of the largest icebergs on record. Icebergs can present a serious maritime danger, with up to…
Marking 75 years since the secret wartime mission Operation Tabarin. The British Antarctic Territory are delighted to present this stamp set showing the changing face of one of the best-known sites in Antarctica and origin of the British Antarctic Survey – Port Lockroy. Find out where to buy Port Lockroy is a Historic Site and…
200 years ago today (16 October 1819), Captain William Smith made the first recorded landing in the British Antarctic Territory, on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands. But who was William Smith, and what was his legacy? William Smith William Smith was born in Britain at Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, on 11 October 1790.…
As part of a regular series on the meaning of place names in the Territory, this latest edition focuses on a Moby Dick inspired theme in the Antarctic Peninsula. August 1st was the 200th anniversary of Herman Melville’s birth. Testament to the variety of themes present in the APC gazetteer, there is a Moby Dick…
