zondag 21 april 2019

British Antarctic Territory - United Kingdom

British Antarctic Territory it comprises everything between the region south 60°S latitude  and longitudes 20°W and 80°W, forming an wedge shape to the South Pole on Antarctica. The archipelagos of the South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands which are now only populated with researchers and scientists. In the past the islands were visited by whale and seal hunters, now Antarctica cruises with whale en seal watching tourist visited the area. The rest of the territory comprise the Antarctic peninsula and its divided in several regions. The mainland part is called Graham Land and its closest to the South American continent. Alexander Island is the biggest island of Antarctica and the British has there an meteorological base since 1950, the island has an size around of Denmark. In 2012 the portion south of the Antarctic Peninsula named Queen Elisabeth Land, it's was that year the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The complete area of the British Antarctic Territory is smaller than the nation of Guatemala. But the area is claimed by the Chileans and Argentinians and they have research base in the area too like the British and other countries. All claims on Antarctica are suspended since the Antarctic Treaty of 1961. But there is an flag and so lets take an look at the flag.


Most British oversea territories uses Blue Ensigns and in the past also Red ensigns, only Bermuda use one nowadays. The blue ones were used by ships which are commanded by an Royal navy officer or ships in public service. The red ones used by British merchant and passenger ships. This White Ensign used by the British navy and its the only oversea territory with such one, but the navy put an St. George's Cross on it. British Antarctic Territory use an coat of arms instead which i explain. The left supporter is an lion which represented the United Kingdom, the right one is an Emperor penguin is represented the Antarctic wildlife. The lion stands on grass and the penguin on ice, i don't get the grass because only mosses grown on Antarctica. On top of the helmet you see an ship, the RRS Discovery which brings Robert Falcon Scott en Ernest Shackleton to the ice continent for exploration, the ship is wrong it must be an steamship. The torch in the center symbolize enlightenment, And the white background with the blue waves symbolize the arctic ocean. 
The motto says "Research and Discovery" and that what they do there. Typical oversee territory flag with only exception the White Ensign make it special.




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