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Welcome to Encyclopedia Westarctica, the authoritative source for all things Westarctican. 1,073 articles and 52 featured articles in English.

Explore Westarctica: Government • People • Geography • Culture Browse Topics: Calsahara • Micronations • Antarctica • Science

Featured article

Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent. It contains the geographic South Pole and is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14,000,000 km2, it is the fifth-largest continent. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages 1.9 kilometers in thickness, which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Antarctica has no indigenous population and there is no evidence that it was seen by humans until the 19th century. However, belief in the existence of a Terra Australis—a vast continent in the far south of the globe to "balance" the northern lands of Europe, Asia and North Africa—had existed since the times of Ptolemy (1st century AD), who suggested the idea to preserve the symmetry of all known landmasses in the world. Even in the late 17th century, after explorers had found that South America and Australia were not part of the fabled "Antarctica", geographers believed that the continent was much larger than its actual size.

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In the news

Baron of Weiss

• 1 May - Sheherazade is awarded the Count of Krigsvold Fellowship for biodiversity conservation in Indonesia.
• 28 Apr - Baron Blake is appointed Chief Air Marshal of Westarctica.
• 20 Apr - A Royal Decree establishes protected areas under the Westarctican Parks Service.
• 18 Apr - The Count of Konter carries the Flag of Westarctica on a diplomatic tour of Monaco.
• 22 Mar - The Flag of Westarctica is raised over Penicuik Manor in Scotland.
• 21 Mar - The Duke of Waite is appointed Minister of Citizenship.
• 5 Mar - The Baron of Weiss celebrates his 50th wedding anniversary.
• 26 - 28 Feb - The Westarctican Parachute Regiment conducts operations at the National Parachute Test Center.

This month in history President Baugh of Molossia meeting Grand Duke Travis 05 May - A Statute for the Autonomy for the Balleny Islands is approved by Grand Duke Travis. (2005) 11 May - The Consular-Consort is disbarred from the nobility and exiled from the Achaean Territory. Her son, Prince Ashton Roman retains his right as heir to the throne. (2004) 15 May - Grand Duke Travis attends a State Dinner with Emperor Oscar of the Empire of Karnia-Ruthenia. (2023) 17 May - Westarctica's first Treaty with another nation is signed with the Republic of Molossia (first state visit pictured). (2005) 22 May - The Royal Council, Westarctica's cabinet, meets for the first time since 2006. (2018) 24 May - Prime Minister Waesche resigns from his post as leader of Westarctica's government after seven years as Prime Minister. (2017) 24 May - Grand Duke Travis attends a diplomatic dinner with leaders from Atlantium and the Principality of Wy. (2022) 26 May - A coup to remove Grand Duke Jon-Lawrence from the throne of Westarctica is successfully organized by the Minister of Defense and the former Grand Duke Travis. (2010) 31 May - Grand Duke Travis conducts a diplomatic visit to Atlantium. (2022)

Featured image Edgar Evans was a Royal Navy officer and member of the "Polar Party" in Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole in 1911–1912. This group of five men, personally selected for the final expedition push, attained the Pole on 17 January 1912. The party perished as they attempted to return to the base camp. Scott's biographer Roland Huntford described Evans as "a huge, bull-necked beefy figure" and a "beery womanizer" who was "running a bit to fat" by the time of Scott's second expedition in Terra Nova. Evans was nearly left behind in New Zealand when he drunkenly fell into the water while boarding the ship. However, held in high regard by Scott for "his resourcefulness, his strength and fund of anecdotes," Scott decided to overlook the incident. Photographer: Unknown (More Images)

Featured Quote "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader." - John Qunicy Adams

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