Main Page

Featured article

The Order of the Snowflake is the second highest Order of Westarctica. The intention of the order is to honor those who have provided a service to Westarctica. It was created in January 2015.

Only the Grand Duke himself has the power to bestow new knighthoods and thus far, he has awarded the medal to foreign dignitaries, artists, prominent nobles, and other supporters of Westarctica. All knights and dames receive the regalia of the class being bestowed; the Order of the Snowflake is always awarded for life. Membership entitles the bearer to attach the post-nomial "KtS" ("Knight of the Snowflake") or "DtS" ("Dame of the Snowflake") following their name. The highest grade, that of Knight Grand Cross, is reserved for Heads of State and members of the Royal Family. It remains the most rarely awarded class.

(Full Article...)

In the news

Operation: MOCK TORTOISE

• 31 Dec - Grand Duke Travis and Prime Minister Farmer become Prince-electors in Great Hanover.
• 11 Dec - Sir Charles Ross is appointed Foreign Minister of Westarctica.
• 10 Dec - Michael Cary is awarded the 2022 Westarctica Conservation Scholarship.
• 19 Nov - Raphania becomes a colony of Westarctica, ending the Westarctica-Raphania War.
• 10 Nov - Westarctica's military occupies Raphania in Operation: MOCK TORTOISE.
• 9 Nov - Viscount Atwood is appointed Captain of the Westarctican Royal Guards.
• 7 Nov - Grand Duke Travis and Prince Dinny become legally divorced.
• 7 Nov - Westarctica's Foreign Minister, the Baron of Dorrel, resigns from his post.

This month in history 20 Ice Mark Notes 10 February - The Grand Duke's first child, and heir to the throne, Prince Ashton Roman, is born to the Consular-Consort. (2004) 11 February - Duke Jordan becomes the first popularly elected Prime Minister of Westarctica. (2019) 12 February - Grand Duke Travis receives a short note from the Grand Duke of Luxembourg thanking him for a letter of condolence on the passing of Grand Duchess Charlotte. (2005) 12 February - Westarctica's German-language subdomain de.westarctica.info goes live. (2018) 13 February - The Grand Ducal Cabinet and the Baronage undergo a major reorganization resulting in changes to certain titles of nobility. (2005) 13 February - Jessica Barton is appointed Commissioner of the Westarctica Civilian Corps. (2019) 15 February - The Constitution of Westarctica is passed into law. (2020) 17 February - Grand Duke Travis sends a letter of support to the King of Nepal in response to his efforts to eliminate the Maoist insurgents from Nepal. King Gyanendra is made an honorary Knight in the Noble Order of Westarctica. (2005) 21 February - The 1st Viscount of Reynolds, Justin Rich, is disbarred from the Baronage due to his lack of ability. (2005) 24 February - Grand Duke Travis hosted a delegation from the Royal Republic of Ladonia for a diplomatic visit in the Colony of Calsahara. (2018) 27 February - Rear Admiral Byrd discovers Thurston Island. (1940) 27 February - The 20 ice mark note is released by the Central Bank of Westarctica. (2019) 27 February - The Principality of Kolios becomes a protectorate of Westarctica. (2022)

Featured image James Clark Ross was a British explorer of the Antarctic who, between 1839 and 1843, commanded an Antarctic expedition comprising the vessels HMS Erebus and HMS Terror; he charted much of the coastline of the continent. Between 1839 and 1843, Ross commanded HMS Erebus on his own Antarctic expedition and charted much of the continent's coastline. Captain Francis Crozier was second-in-command of the expedition, commanding HMS Terror. In 1841, James Ross discovered the Ross Sea, Victoria Land, and the volcanoes Mount Erebus and Mount Terror, which were named for the expedition's vessels. They sailed for 250 nautical miles (460 km) along the edge of the low, flat-topped ice shelf they called variously the Barrier or the Great Ice Barrier, later named the Ross Ice Shelf in his honor. He was awarded the Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations in 1843, knighted in 1844, and elected to the Royal Society in 1848. Artist: John R. Wildman (More Images)

Featured Quote "Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don't have strength." - Napoleon Bonaparte

More info

• About Encyclopedia Westarctica
• General disclaimer
• Copyright issues