How exactly was the magical Antarctica discovered by humans? Why, to this day, is the Antarctic continent still not within the territory of any country?

As the southernmost continent on Earth, Antarctica has always been considered a mysterious and inaccessible place.

The ice and snow covering the entire Antarctic continent account for 80% of the global ice and snow area.

This land of ice and snow is not only filled with floating icebergs but also teeming with astonishing life. Despite its extreme conditions, plants and animals tenaciously survive on this continent.

So, how was this unique continent discovered by humans? And why is Antarctica still not claimed by any country?

The Discovery of Antarctica

Although Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen is widely considered the first person to reach the South Pole, Antarctica was actually discovered by other explorers before him.

According to Antarctic historians, the earliest notice of Antarctica was by an Italian navigator in 1502, who claimed to have discovered a "new continent" at the southern end of the Earth.

Following him, Portuguese explorers also reported seeing land further south than the Americas, which is now believed to have been Antarctica.

In 1578, a British sailor recorded in his diary the experience of finding penguins on a small island.

However, records about Antarctica became sparse thereafter.

It wasn't until 1738 that a Frenchman named Bouvet landed on a nearby island, which was later named Bouvet Island.

Starting in 1938, scientists from Britain, France, and the United States began expeditions to Antarctica.

Amundsen left the first human footprints on the Antarctic continent.

A month after him, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott also reached the South Pole, but tragically died on the return journey.

Scott's diaries and rock samples provided valuable information for subsequent explorers.

As more explorers and scientists traveled to Antarctica, territorial disputes over the continent gradually emerged.

Territorial Claims in Antarctica

In 1908, Britain was the first to claim territory in Antarctica, followed by New Zealand, Norway, Argentina, and other countries that also sought to divide the continent.

By the early 1950s, these countries had self-divided over 80% of Antarctica.

However, these actions were not recognized by the world's superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, at the time.

After World War II, more countries joined the race for Antarctica.

Between 1957 and 1958, countries around the world sent expeditions, hoping to secure a presence on the continent.

Among them, the United States occupied the central position of Antarctica to intimidate other nations.

The Soviet Union also transported large amounts of supplies to Antarctica, planning to establish a military base there.

The Antarctic continent was filled with tense "powder keg" atmospheres.

The Path to Antarctic "Independence"

Despite the ongoing disputes over Antarctica, a consensus gradually emerged: countries could cooperate on scientific research without affecting territorial claims.

In 1958, the United States convened a conference in Washington, D.C., with 12 countries, including Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Japan, France, and Norway.

After multiple negotiations, these countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, stipulating that no country would dispute territorial claims, and only scientific research and cooperation would be conducted there, prohibiting military activities and waste disposal.

Although the United Nations considered Antarctica to belong to all humanity and attempted to gain management rights, it was unsuccessful.

However, the international community gradually agreed that any country could join the Antarctic Treaty and conduct reasonable scientific research in Antarctica.

The Harsh Environment of Antarctica

Another reason Antarctica remains "independent" is its inhospitable conditions for long-term human habitation.

Though covered in ice and snow, Antarctica is one of the driest regions in the world, with an annual average precipitation of only about 55 millimeters.

Coupled with insufficient sunlight and low temperatures, Antarctica is extremely dry and unsuitable for agricultural production, making long-term human habitation difficult.

Although Chinese researchers have successfully grown vegetables in Antarctica, it relies on high-tech methods, requiring significant time and effort.

Antarctica, as the only uninhabited continent on Earth, is seen as humanity's last pure land.

However, with increasing environmental pollution, whether this pure land can remain unchanged is still uncertain.