The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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      Airports - with paved runways:

       total: 1

       914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

      Airports - with unpaved runways:

       total: 2

       under 914 m: 2 (2002)

      Military Anguilla

      Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

      Transnational Issues Anguilla

      Disputes - international:

       none

      Illicit drugs:

       transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the

       US and Europe

      This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

      ======================================================================

      @Antarctica

      Introduction Antarctica

      Background:

       Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not

       confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial

       operators and British and Russian national expeditions began

       exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of

       the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that

       Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.

       Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th

       century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific

       research on the continent. A number of countries have set up

       year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made

       territorial claims, but no other country recognizes these claims. In

       order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the

       continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies

       nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in

       1959, it entered into force in 1961.

      Geography Antarctica

      Location:

       continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

      Geographic coordinates:

       90 00 S, 0 00 E

      Map references:

       Antarctic Region

      Area:

       total: 14 million sq km

       note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North

       America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the

       subcontinent of Europe

       land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km

       ice-covered) (est.)

      Area - comparative:

       slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

      Land boundaries: 0 km note: see entry on International disputes

      Coastline:

       17,968 km

      Maritime claims:

       none; 20 of 27 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims

       to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the

       right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other

       nations; also see the Disputes - international entry

      Climate:

       severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance

       from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica

       because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most

       moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the

       coast and average slightly below freezing

      Terrain:

       about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with

       average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges

       up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of

       southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area,

       and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves

       along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves

       constitute 11% of the area of the continent

      Elevation extremes:

       lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench −2,555 m

       highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m

       note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the

       Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet

       discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater

      Natural resources:

       iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other

       minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small

       uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish,

       and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries

      Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (1998 est.)

      Irrigated land:

       0 sq km (1998 est.)

      Natural hazards:

       katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high

       interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau;

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