Antarctica, represented by the flag , is not a country. It is a continent, and despite its icy landscape, it's technically the largest desert in the world due to its extremely low annual precipitation. The governance of Antarctica is established by a treaty known as the Antarctic Treaty System. This treaty, signed by 54 countries, prohibits military activity, mineral mining, nuclear tests, and nuclear waste disposal on the continent. It supports scientific research and protects the continent's unique ecozone.