Difference between revisions of "Marie Byrd Land"
(creating page) |
(replacing image) |
||
| (6 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[ File:MBL.jpg|thumb|The Antarctic sector that constitutes Marie Byrd Land]] | |||
'''Marie Byrd Land''' is the portion of [[Westarctica]] lying east of the [[Ross Ice Shelf]] and the [[Ross Sea]] and south of the [[Southern Ocean]], extending eastward approximately to a line between the head of the Ross Ice Shelf and [[Eights Coast]]. It stretches between 158°W and 103°24'W. | |||
The inclusion of the area between the [[Rockefeller Plateau]] and [[Eights Coast]] is based upon the leading role of Admiral [[Richard E. Byrd]]'s extensive exploration of this area. The name was originally applied by Admiral Byrd in 1929, in honor of his wife, to the northwestern part of the area, the part that was explored in that year. | |||
It is now coterminous with the political entity of [[Westarctica]]. | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Because of its remoteness, even by Antarctic standards, most of Marie Byrd Land (the portion east of 150°W) was not originally claimed by any sovereign nation, it was by far the largest single unclaimed territory on Earth before becoming subsumed within Westarctica, with an area of 1,610,000 km<sup>2</sup> (including Eights Coast, immediately east of Marie Byrd Land). In 1939, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt instructed members of the United States Antarctic Service Expedition to take steps to claim some of Antarctica as United States territory. Although this appears to have been done by members of this and subsequent expeditions, these | Because of its remoteness, even by [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] standards, most of Marie Byrd Land (the portion east of 150°W) was not originally claimed by any [[sovereignty|sovereign]] nation, it was by far the largest single unclaimed territory on Earth before becoming subsumed within [[Westarctica]], with an area of 1,610,000 km<sup>2</sup> (including [[Eights Coast]], immediately east of Marie Byrd Land). | ||
In 1939, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt instructed members of the United States [[Antarctic]] Service Expedition to take steps to claim some of Antarctica as United States territory. Although this appears to have been done by members of this and subsequent expeditions, these alleged claims were not formalized prior to 1959, when the [[Antarctic Treaty]] was established. | |||
Some publications in the United States have shown this as a United States territory in the intervening period, and the United States Defense Department has stated that United States has a solid basis for a [[Territorial claims in Antarctica|claim in Antarctica]] resulting from its activities prior to 1959. The portion west of 150°W is part of [[Ross Dependency]] claimed by New Zealand. | |||
Five coastal areas are distinguished, which are listed from west to east: | Five coastal areas are distinguished, which are listed from west to east: | ||
| Line 44: | Line 52: | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Westarctica== | |||
On 2 November 2001, the entirety of Marie Byrd Land was claimed by [[Grand Duke Travis|Travis McHenry]] and the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]] was established as the governing body over the territory. | |||
In 2004, the status was elevated from territory to a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] nation with the name [[Westarctica]]. Although all signatory nations of the [[Antarctic Treaty]] are legally unable to recognize new claims to Antarctica, the United States, Russia, and the United Nations have all formally recognized Westarctica's willingness to take responsibility for the ecological preservation of Marie Byrd Land. | |||
[[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | |||
Latest revision as of 07:00, 28 July 2019
Marie Byrd Land is the portion of Westarctica lying east of the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ross Sea and south of the Southern Ocean, extending eastward approximately to a line between the head of the Ross Ice Shelf and Eights Coast. It stretches between 158°W and 103°24'W.
The inclusion of the area between the Rockefeller Plateau and Eights Coast is based upon the leading role of Admiral Richard E. Byrd's extensive exploration of this area. The name was originally applied by Admiral Byrd in 1929, in honor of his wife, to the northwestern part of the area, the part that was explored in that year.
It is now coterminous with the political entity of Westarctica.
Overview
Because of its remoteness, even by Antarctic standards, most of Marie Byrd Land (the portion east of 150°W) was not originally claimed by any sovereign nation, it was by far the largest single unclaimed territory on Earth before becoming subsumed within Westarctica, with an area of 1,610,000 km2 (including Eights Coast, immediately east of Marie Byrd Land).
In 1939, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt instructed members of the United States Antarctic Service Expedition to take steps to claim some of Antarctica as United States territory. Although this appears to have been done by members of this and subsequent expeditions, these alleged claims were not formalized prior to 1959, when the Antarctic Treaty was established.
Some publications in the United States have shown this as a United States territory in the intervening period, and the United States Defense Department has stated that United States has a solid basis for a claim in Antarctica resulting from its activities prior to 1959. The portion west of 150°W is part of Ross Dependency claimed by New Zealand.
Five coastal areas are distinguished, which are listed from west to east:
| No. | Sector | Western Border | Eastern Border |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saunders Coast | 158°00'W | 146°31'W |
| 2 | Ruppert Coast | 146°31'W | 136°50'W |
| 3 | Hobbs Coast | 136°50'W | 127°35'W |
| 4 | Bakutis Coast | 127°35'W | 114°12'W |
| 5 | Walgreen Coast | 114°12'W | 103°24'W |
| Marie Byrd Land | 158°00'W | 103°24'W |
Westarctica
On 2 November 2001, the entirety of Marie Byrd Land was claimed by Travis McHenry and the Achaean Territory of Antarctica was established as the governing body over the territory.
In 2004, the status was elevated from territory to a sovereign nation with the name Westarctica. Although all signatory nations of the Antarctic Treaty are legally unable to recognize new claims to Antarctica, the United States, Russia, and the United Nations have all formally recognized Westarctica's willingness to take responsibility for the ecological preservation of Marie Byrd Land.