The mountains, seas filled with blue whales, emperor penguins and leopard seals of Antarctica are all protected to preserve wildlife with an international agreement. This accord took effect in 1998, and prohibits mining and oil drilling for at least fifty years anywhere within the boundaries of the world's most frigid and pristine ecosystem. Conserving the environment is a priority over developing it. Very few things that would be a danger to the wildlife here are allowed. This means that everything from pesticides to dogs are banned.

The agreement in question is titled the Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctica Treaty. It binds the world nations in an agreement that leaves one location free of commercialism and industrial development. Approved in 1991, this treaty has the support of the leading 26 nations including the United States, Japan, India, China, Brazil, Argentina, and the majority of all European nations.

Prior to the signing of the treaty, lobbyists from environmental organizations had worked for fifteen years to discuss and formulate the regulations outlined in the accord. According to the rules of the treaty, the 35 scientific facilities based in Antarctica are required to take care of their garbage. Raw sewage is not allowed anywhere near the waters of Antarctica, even from tourist vessels.

In 1911, Roald Amundsen and explorers like him relied on dog sleds for their transportation around the continent and to reach the South Pole. However, the treaty makes dogs illegal since a few of the scientists' pets have recently caused the death of penguins and other birds common to the area. In addition, pesticides, polystyrene components, and contaminated dirt cannot be transported to Antarctica.

There is land on Antarctica, but it's hidden under a mile of ice, and the amount of plant life found there is minimal. The ice on the continent accounts for 70% of the Earth's fresh water. In the waters that surround the continent, seals, fish, aquatic birds, and whales thrive.

On this earth, Antarctica is considered to be one of the most fragile places. Not a lot of growth occurs in the intense cold. Many years will pass before any damage can be completely repaired. Footprints, for example, can take as much as 10 years to disappear.

1959 marked the signing of the initial Antarctic Treaty, and it prohibited military operations and the testing of nuclear devices in the region. Rules for research were established and Antarctica was declared to be owned by no nation. Even though there is no nation that claims ownership of the continent, every inch is claimed by overlapping countries.

Conservations laws were pushed for in the 1980's when scientists discovered oil reserves, coal, copper, gold, iron, zinc, manganese, uranium and other minerals off the coastline. In the midst of the energy crisis of the 1970s, the feasibility of drilling for oil in Antarctica was considered. With the price of oil going up and technology becoming more advanced, it's possible that further interest will be felt.

Each of the 26 nations that uphold the treaty have their own jurisdictions. Should one country's citizens violate any of the rules and its government will not mediate the situation, other nations will put pressure on the government to solve it. This agreement is viewed by many to be a victory for the environment.