The British Antarctic Territory (BAT) is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 remaining British Overseas Territories, of which it is by far the largest by area. The Territory was formed on 3 March 1962, although the UK’s claim to this portion of the Antarctic dates back to letters patent of 1908 and 1917. The United Kingdom’s claim to the region has been suspended since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961.
The area now covered by the Territory includes three regions which, before 1962, were administered by the British as Falkland Islands Dependencies:
In 2012, the southern part of the territory was named Queen Elizabeth Land in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. The territory is inhabited by the staff of research and support stations operated and maintained by the British Antarctic Survey and other organisations, and stations of Argentina, Chile and other countries. There are no native inhabitants.
See also Polar Regions.
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