Antarctica under siege

Antarctica is becoming increasingly crowded by curious tourists, spellbound scientists, and countries hungry for oil and minerals. Though mining is banned until 2048, more nations are in a race to gain a toehold on the continent now - hoping to secure a voice when and if the world decides to divide up Antarctica's spoils. Already, countries are jockeying for position in the event that soaring oil prices and a world energy crisis lead to the relaxation of the ban.

Though only seven countries claim territory on Antarctica - Argentina, Australia, Britain, Chile, France, Norway, and New Zealand - other signatories of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty can build scientific stations, and many have stepped up their efforts recently. China and India have plans to add to the 59 permanent and seasonal bases in Antarctica, as do Estonia, Belgium, and South Korea.

India recently announced that it wants to build a new base in the Larsemann Hills, in an area that has been designated construction-free by international consent. The United States has blazed a 1,000-mile-long "ice highway" from its McMurdo Station on the coast to the South Pole. The track will be used to haul hundreds of tons of equipment across ice fields and crevasses.

- Now that's literally going to the ends of the earth in search of resources.

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