Antarctica (fictional)

**Antarctica**, officially known as the **Federated States of Antarctica**, is a large nation located on the continent of the same name. Antarctica is the second largest country in the world, surpassed only by Russia in land area.

Antarctica is on average the coldest, driest, and windiest country, and has the highest average elevation. It is mainly a polar desert, with annual precipitation of 200 mm (8 in) along the coast and far less inland. About 70% of the world's freshwater reserves are frozen there, which if melted would raise global sea levels by about 60 metres (200 ft). Antarctica holds the record for the lowest measured temperature on Earth, −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F). The average temperature for the third quarter (the coldest part of the year) is −63 °C (−81 °F). Native species of animals include mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades. Vegetation consists of tundra.

The continental mass of Antarctica was first seen on January 27, 1820, when the Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev sighted the Fimbul ice shelf. This date is celebrated as Bellingshausen Day, the national day of Antarctica. Bellingshausen claimed the territory for the Russian Empire. The continent was explored further in January 1840 by the United States Exploring Expedition, under Lieutenant Charles Wilkes; and a separate French expedition under Jules Dumont d'Urville. The Wilkes expedition—though it did not make a landing—remained long enough in the region to survey 1,300 km (800 mi) of the coast. The Russian and British Empires soon began to dominate the continent, and it was fully colonized by the turn of the 20th Century. Other colonial powers such as Norway, Germany, and France formed colonies in Antarctica, though by the end of World War II, all of Antarctica was under the control of the British Crown as a Dominion.

Antarctica is made up of ten states, a federal district, has a wide variety of territories, and also claims a seamount chain in the South Atlantic Ocean for a possible seasteading project. It has the largest GDP out of any Southern Hemisphere nation, controls the largest military force south of the Equator, and has become the Southern Hemisphere’s primary regional power. The armed forces of Antarctica are regarded as one of the largest in the world, with the military being culturally and politically connected within the nation. Due to its growing economy and military, Antarctica has been regarded internationally as an emerging great power. Antarctica also boasts the largest population of any Southern Hemisphere country.

Antarctica was largely bypassed by the direct effects of the Cold War due to a lack of major Communist support; and it entered the 21st Century as one of the most developed regions on Earth. Antarctica consistently ranks among the world's most livable countries, and has been called "the most enlightened nation on Earth in terms of Civil Rights". The sheer size and diverse population of Antarctica has also made it the cultural capital of the Southern Hemisphere, incorporating traditions from all across the world. The cultural hub of Antarctica is Peter I Island, which is perhaps Antarctica’s most prized possession.

Antarctica is often described as a nation of disenfranchised world citizens with a liberal world view on issues such as environmental conscience, equality, and promoting unity among mankind, and seeks to be a separatist nation for those who subscribe to a variety of liberal and progressive world views. The defeat of a plan for universal health care in the United States by lobbyists and the lawmakers who are financially tied to them has caused massive immigration to Antarctica, which is often called a libertarian socialist nation.

## Info

* Motto: “Research and Discovery”
* Anthem: *Antarctica, Land of the Brave*
* Royal anthem: *God Save the Queen*
* Capital: Terra Nova
* Largest city: Novopetrograd
* Official languages: English and Russian
* Recognized minority languages: Norwegian, German, and French
* Demonyms: Antarctic, Antarctican
* Government: Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
	+ Queen: Elizabeth II
	+ Prime Minister: Jordan Farmer
* Currency: Antarctic dollar ($) (AQD)
* Internet TLD: .aq

## IRL territories part of this Antarctica

* British Antarctic Territory + South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* All of French Southern and Antarctic Lands
* Australian Antarctic Territory
* Ross Dependency (New Zealand) + New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
* Queen Maud Land, Peter I Island, and Bouvet Island (Norway)
* Argentine Antarctica
* Chilean Antarctica
* All territories claimed by micronation “Westarctica”