Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) are areas on the continent of Antarctica which are protected by scientists and several different international bodies. The protected areas were established in 1961 under the Antarctic Treaty System

Antarctic Treaty System

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth's only continent without a native human population. For the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all of the land...

, which governs all the land and water south of 60 latitude and protects against human development. A permit is required for entry into any ASPA site. The ASPA sites are protected by the governments of Australia, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, Chile, France, Argentina, Poland, Russia, Norway, Japan, India, and Italy. There are currently 71 sites.

List of ASPA sites

Areas managed by the Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, sorted by geographic area

Victoria Land

• ASPA 106 Cape Hallett, Victoria Land
• ASPA 123 Barwick and Balham Valleys, Victoria Land
• ASPA 138 Linnaeus Terrace, Asgard Range, Victoria Land

McMurdo Ice Shelf

• ASPA 137 Northwest White Island, McMurdo Sound

McMurdo Dry Valleys ASMA

• ASPA 123 Barwick and Balham Valleys
• ASPA 131 Canada Glacier
• ASPA 138 Linnaeus Terrace
• ASPA 154 Botany Bay

External links

• Official List of ASPA sites
• ats.aq: The Official Guide to the Preparation of Management Plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas
• Government of Japan - efforts to protect Antarctica in Japan
• US State Department - Proposed Re-numbering of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas