Antarctica

Antarctica does not have a universally recognized flag. Several flags have been proposed, of which True South is currently the most widely used on the continent itself.

History[]

Emblem of the Antarctic Treaty[]

The emblem of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), a series of international agreements that restrict the use of the continent by national governments, has been in use on official documents since 1961. In 2002, the emblem was adopted officially by the ATS. The emblem, which is sometimes flown as a flag, shows a map of Antarctica overlaid with latitude and longitude lines on a dark blue background. Officially, it represents the organization, not the continent itself.

Whitney Smith proposal[]

Flag of Antarctica (Whitney Smith) — Whitney Smith's proposal

Prominent vexillologist Whitney Smith designed the first modern Antarctic flag proposal in 1978. It has an orange background in order to stand out in the harsh climate of the continent, as well as to avoid confusion with any of the national flags flown there. It is charged with the initial "A" and a circular segment (representing the southernmost part of Earth) held by two hands. Smith's flag appeared in some publications, but it was never widely used.

Graham Bartram proposal[]

Flag of Antarctica (Graham Bartram) — Graham Bartram's proposal

In the 1990s, Graham Bartram (now Chief Vexillologist of the Flag Institute) designed an Antarctic flag to be included in the computer application 3-D Atlas. It depicts the continent in white on a sky blue field. The colors match those of the flag of the United Nations, symbolizing neutrality. As part of an Antarctic cruise in 2002, NAVA member Ted Kaye flew the flag at the Brazilian base Comandante Ferraz and the British museum at Port Lockroy. It is also used for the Antarctica flag emoji.

True South[]

True South is a flag designed and first made in Antarctica during the winter of 2018. It was revealed to the public in 2020 and was quickly adopted by national Antarctic programs, expedition teams, organizations, and businesses across the world. Its design is used to mark the Geographic South Pole.

The stripes represent the long days and nights at Antarctica's extreme latitude. The lone white peak echoes the bergs, mountains, and pressure ridges that define the Antarctic horizon. The long shadow it casts forms the shape of a compass arrow pointed south. Together, the two center shapes create a diamond, symbolizing the hope that Antarctica will continue to be a center of peace, discovery, and cooperation for generations to come.

Territorial claims[]

Several countries have made sovereignty claims to sectors of Antarctica. The 1961 Antarctic Treaty forbids new claims to the continent, but explicitly does not renounce existing ones; nonetheless, these claims have limited international recognition.

While the respective national flags are used at each country's research bases, several claimed territories have their own flag, or are part of a larger territory that has one.