Glasgow Digital Library Voyage of the Scotia BRUCE PEOPLE SHIP ANTARCTIC INDEX
Scotland and the Antarctic

Section 1: Background - Arctic and Antarctic ... The Nature of Antarctica

Why do people live in Antarctica?

Most of the people living in Antarctica today are scientists working in over 40 bases. Over two million people live within the Arctic Circle in the northern hemisphere but within the Antarctic Circle the average is population is 3,500 in summer and about 1,500 in winter.

Population density per square kilometre

United Kingdom 240
Europe 65
Antarctica 0.0008

The Antarctic Treaty signed in 1960 has ensured that the area south of 60°S is only used for peaceful scientific research. No military personnel are allowed, and there are no mining operations and no animals (except humans) - so there are no longer any dogs in the Antarctic.

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Glasgow Digital Library Voyage of the Scotia BRUCE PEOPLE SHIP ANTARCTIC INDEX