Ross Dependency
|
Ross Dependency |
|
|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
| Status | Area of the Realm of New Zealand |
| Major bases | |
| Government | None |
| New Zealand dependency | |
|
• Claim delegated
to New Zealand |
1923 |
|
• Sector span
|
160°E – 150°W |
| Area | |
|
• Total
|
450,000 km2 (170,000 sq mi) |
| Population | |
|
• Seasonal estimate
|
|
| Currency | New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
| Time zone | NZST (UTC+12) |
|
• Summer (DST)
|
NZDT (UTC+13) |
| (Sep to Apr) | |
| Calling code | +64 2409 |
| ISO 3166 code | AQ |
| Internet TLD | |
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. Since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, Article IV of which 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," most countries do not recognise territorial claims 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 Island, Balleny Islands and the small Scott Island also form part of the Dependency, as does the ice-covered Roosevelt Island.
Following his discovery of Victoria Land in 1841, James Clark Ross took possession of this territory, along with the surrounding sea, on behalf of Britain. On 30 July 1923, the United Kingdom government passed an Order in Council under the British Settlements Act 1887, which defined the current borders of the Ross Dependency as follows:
The Order in Council then went on to appoint the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand as the Governor of the territory. This Order in Council was published in the New Zealand Gazette on 16 August 1923, and on 14 November 1923, the Governor-General issued regulations extending New Zealand law to the Ross Dependency.
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Wikipedia