Chilean Antarctic Territory

Chile's territorial claim in Antarctica

The Chilean Antarctic Territory is the territory in Antarctica claimed by Chile since 1940. The Chilean Antarctic Territory overlaps Argentine and British Antarctic claims.

Chilean Antarctic Territory
Territorio Chileno Antártico
Flag of Chilean Antarctic Territory
Coat of arms of Chilean Antarctic Territory
Location of Chilean Antarctic Territory
Country Chile
Region Magallanes y Antártica Chilena
ProvinceAntártica Chilena
CommuneAntártica
ClaimedNovember 6, 1940
Government
 • IntendantJorge Flies Añón
 • GovernorPatricio Oyarzo Gáez
 • MayorPatricio Fernández
 • INACH DirectorJosé Retamales Espinoza
Area
 • Total1,250,257.6 km2 (482,727.2 sq mi)
Population
 (2012 Census)[1]
 • Total115
 • Density0/km2 (0.00024/sq mi)
 • Urban
0
 • Rural
115
Sex
 • Men100
 • Women15
Time zoneUTC-3
Area code56 + 61
CapitalVilla Las Estrellas
CurrencyChilean Peso
Websitehttp://www.inach.cl/ (in Spanish)

Within Chilean territorial organization Antártica is the name of the commune that administers the territory. Belongs to Antártica Chilena Province, which is part of Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region. The commune of Antártica was created on July 11, 1961, and was dependent on the Magallanes Province until 1975, when the Antártica Chilena Province was created, making it dependent administratively on Puerto Williams, the province capital.

The Antarctic Treaty froze all the Antartic claims.

The Chilean Antarctic Territory map.
 
Night view of Villa Las Estrellas, the only civil settlement.

List of Chilean Antarctic Bases:

Name Country Location Type
Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva   Chile King George Island P
Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme   Chile Antarctic Peninsula P
Base Capitán Arturo Prat   Chile Greenwich Island P
Base Profesor Julio Escudero   Chile King George Island P
Estación Polar Científica Conjunta "Glaciar Unión"   Chile Union Glacier S
Base Yelcho   Chile Doumer Island S
Base Doctor Guillermo Mann   Chile Livingston Island S
Base Presidente Gabriel González Videla   Chile Paradise Bay S
Refugio Julio Ripamonti   Chile Ardley Island S
Refugio Luis Risopatrón   Chile Robert Island S
Refugio Collins   Chile Collins Bay S

(P): Permanent; Are open all the year. (S): Seasonal; Are open in the Austral Summer.

Villa Las Estrellas is the only civil settlement in a Chilean Base, the other one is in Esperanza Base (Argentina) and it's called "Fortín Sargento Cabral"

The only permanent Chilean base on the Antarctic Peninsula is Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme. It has been working since February 18, 1948. It is located on Puerto Covadonga.

 
Gabriel González Videla inaugurating the Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme in Antarctica in 1948.

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Censo 2012 - POBLACIÓN TOTAL CONTABILIZADA, CENSADA Y ESTIMADA DE MORADORES AUSENTES, POR SEXO E ÍNDICE DE MASCULINIDAD, SEGÚN REGIÓN, PROVINCIA, COMUNA Y ÁREA URBANA - RURAL. (POBLACIÓN INCLUYENDO ESTIMACIÓN DE MORADORES AUSENTES)" (in Spanish). National Statistics Institute. Archived from the original (xls) on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.