Ross Dependency
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AI overview
Ross Dependency is a large region of Antarctica that New Zealand claims as its territory, though this claim is not internationally recognized due to the Antarctic Treaty System, which sets aside all territorial claims in Antarctica for the sake of scientific cooperation. It matters primarily as a symbol of New Zealand's historical involvement in Antarctic exploration and as a reminder of how the international community chose to manage Antarctica as a shared space rather than allowing nations to divide it up among themselves.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Sovereign state
- New Zealand
- Sector claim
- 160°E – 150°W
- Main base and administrative centre
- Scott Base , 77°50′57″S 166°46′06″E / 77.849132°S 166.768196°E / -77.849132; 166.768196
- Official languages
- English
- Government
- Dependency under a constitutional monarchy
- Monarch
- Charles III
- Governor
- Dame Cindy Kiro
- Total
- 450,000 km (170,000 sq mi)
- Seasonal estimate
- 10 – 80 ( Scott Base ) 200 – 1,000 ( McMurdo Station ) 85 – 200 ( South Pole Station ) 0 – 90 ( Zucchelli Station ) 20 – 60 ( Jang Bogo Station ) 30 – 80 ( Qinling Station )
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar (NZ$) ( NZD )
- Time zone
- UTC+12:00 ( NZST )
- Summer dst
Article
The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south. It is claimed by New Zealand, a claim mutually accepted only by Australia, the UK, France and Norway, which are countries that also have territorial claims in Antarctica. Under the 1961 Antarctic Treaty, of which all territorial claimants are signatories, including New Zealand, all claims are held in abeyance. Article IV states: "No acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is in force shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica or create any rights of sovereignty in Antarctica".
The Dependency takes its name from Sir James Clark Ross, who discovered the Ross Sea, and includes part of Victoria Land and most of the Ross Ice Shelf. Ross, Balleny, Scott and Roosevelt Islands also form part of the Dependency.