 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(January 2021) |
This list includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used in Antarctica.
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(January 2021) |
This list includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used in Antarctica.
| Flag | Date | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1929 | RRS Discovery crew | Plain white flag |
 | 1978 [1] | Whitney Smith's proposal. | An orange field bearing an emblem consisting of a pair of hands holding a segment of a disk representing Earth with the letter "A" representing Antarctica. |
 | 1995 [2] | Joanne Cooper and Stefan Tucker's proposal. | An orange field bearing an outline of Antarctica, a compass pointing south at the bottom left, and the outline of a penguin to the right. |
 | 1996 [3] | Graham Bartram's proposal. | A white outline of Antarctica on a UN-blue background. |
 | 1999 [3] [4] | Dave Hamilton's proposal. | The pale blue strip represents pack ice, the dark blue stripe represents the night sky and the yellow stripe is a representation of the aurora australis. The famous stellar constellation the Southern Cross is shown in the dark blue stripe at the right. |
 | 2007/2008 [3] | Olivier Leroi's proposal. | The flag is vertically divided in four stripes — black, off-white, orange, and gray — reproducing the proportions of the colors on the "livery" (feathers) of an emperor penguin, selected as Antarctica's emblematic animal. |
 | 2018 [5] [6] | Evan Townsend's proposal (True South flag) | According to the flag's promoters, it signifies: "Horizontal stripes of navy and white represent the long days and nights at Antarctica's extreme latitude. In the center, a lone white peak erupts from a field of snow and ice, echoing those of the bergs, mountains, and pressure ridges that define the Antarctic horizon. The long shadow it casts forms the unmistakable shape of a compass arrow pointed south, an homage to the continent's legacy of exploration. Together, the two center shapes create a diamond, symbolizing the hope that Antarctica will continue to be a center of peace, discovery, and cooperation for generations to come." |
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Since 1961, [7] [8] formalized in 2002 [9] | Flag of the Antarctic Treaty System | Logo of the organization in 2:3 proportions. A white outline of Antarctica over a dark blue field with lines representing longitude and latitude counterchanged on top. |
 | 2013 [10] | Flag of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research | Logo of the organization in 2:3 proportions. A white outline of Antarctica on a blue field defaced with the acronym of the organization, surrounded by the text "The International Council for Science" and "Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research" arranged in a circle within a white circular line. |
| Flag | Date | Claim/Territory | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Since 1999 [11] | Argentine Antarctica, in Tierra del Fuego Province. | The blue symbolizes the sky and sea surrounding the province, while the Southern Cross reflects the night sky and the albatross itself is a local bird that represents freedom through flight. |
 | Since 1963 [12] | British Antarctic Territory | A UK white ensign less the cross of St. George defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory. |
 | A UK blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory. | ||
 | Since 1997 [13] | Chilean Antarctic Territory, in Magallanes Region. | The blue color represents the night sky, while the golden peaks symbolize the steppe region, white indicates the snow that often falls in winter, and the Southern Cross symbolizes the position of the area. |
 | Since 2007 [14] | Adélie Land, in French Southern and Antarctic Territories. | The flag consists of a blue field with the French flag with white fimbriation on the canton. The charge consists of 5 stars (for the five regions of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories) and the letters "TAAF" (from the French name of the territory, Terres australes et antarctiques françaises) forming a monogram in the shape of anchor. |
| Flag | Date | Claim/Territory | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1995 [15] | Ross Dependency | The New Zealand flag is the basis for his design, though with an 'Ice Blue' background representing the Ross Sea, and the white horizontal bar at the bottom of the flag representing the Ross Ice Shelf. |
| Flag | Date | Claim/Territory | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1933–1939 | Byrd's Second Antarctic Expedition | |
 | |||
 | 1902–1904 | Scottish National Antarctic Expedition | Scottish saltire with the letters "S-N-A-E" as an acronym for "Scottish National Antarctic Expedition". |
 | 1946–1948 | Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition | |
 | 1910–1912 | Imperial Japanese Antarctic Expedition | |
 | |||
 | 1979–1982 | "Transglobe" Expedition | UK flag defaced with a globe and an arrow circumnavigate it from North to South. |
| Flag | Base | Country | Descpription |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Amundsen–Scott South Pole |  USA | White variant of the flag of the USAP: plain white field charged with the logo of the United States Antarctic Program. |
 | Palmer Station | USA | Blue variant of the flag of the USAP: plain blue field charged with the logo of the United States Antarctic Program. |
 | Captain Arturo Prat |  Chile | Plain white field charged with the coat of arms of the base. |
 | Gabriel de Castilla |  Spain | The flag of Spain defaced with the emblem of the base. |
| Flag | Date | Concept | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1979 [16] | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Flag of Byrd's historic flight over the South Pole. | |
 | 2020 [17] | 200th Anniversary Commemorative Flag of Russia in Antarctica | |
 | 2000 [18] | Burgee of the Ross Island Yacht Club Antarctica (RIYCA) | White represents the ice and purity. Blue represents the sky and valor. The silhouette depicts Shakleton's efforts on the waters around Ross Island. The Antarctic Skua, inspires freedom found in the south and a free meal wherever it may be found. The bloodshot red bowsprit reflects the directional desires on earth and on the wheel of life. |
 | Since 2004 [19] [20] | Antarctic Vexillological Association | Blue represents the 24-hour day of the summer season, black represents the 24-hour night of the winter season, and white represents the ice and snow of the Antarctic continent. The Diamond in the middle if divided across the equator represents the "A" of Antarctica and "V" of Vexillology. The Diamond also represents the 4 compass points representing the compass points leading away from the geographic South Pole. |
The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth's only continent without a native human population. It was the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War, designating the continent as a scientific preserve, establishing freedom of scientific investigation, and banning military activity; for the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude. Since September 2004, the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, which implements the treaty system, is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The French Southern and Antarctic Lands is an overseas territory of France. It consists of:
The national flag of Aruba was adopted on 18 March 1976, along with the official anthem "Aruba Dushi Tera". The flag was partially designed by vexillologist Whitney Smith. On 18 March Aruba celebrates National Anthem and Flag Day, marked by local events across the island. It is also a significant day as it represents the Kingdom of the Netherlands giving Aruba an autonomous status.
Vexillology is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general.
The flag of Pennsylvania consists of a blue field on which the state coat of arms is displayed.
Flags of the World is an Internet-based vexillological association and resource. Its principal project is the Internet's largest website devoted to vexillology, containing comprehensive information about various flags, and an associated mailing list. The mailing list began as a discussion group in about September 1993, while the website was founded by Giuseppe Bottasini in late 1994, and Rob Raeside took over as director in 1998. Flags of the World became the 56th member of the FIAV in 2001.
A flag of Antarctica is a flag or flag design that represents the continent of Antarctica. As a condominium with no single governing body, it does not have an official flag of its own. However, several designs have been created for the purpose of representing the continent.
The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) is a membership organization devoted to vexillology, the study of flags. It was founded in 1967 by American vexillologist Whitney Smith (1940–2016), and others. Its membership of 1,100+ comprises flag scholars, enthusiasts, designers, collectors, conservators, educators, merchants, manufacturers, historians, and hobbyists from most states and provinces of the United States and Canada, and more than 30 other countries.
The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is an interdisciplinary body of the International Science Council (ISC). SCAR coordinates international scientific research efforts in Antarctica, including the Southern Ocean.
The flag of the British Antarctic Territory was granted on 21 April 1998. It features the coat of arms granted on 1 August 1963, a year after the British Antarctic Territory, a British Overseas Territory, was created. Previously, the Territory was a part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies and used the same flag. On 30 May 1969, a blue ensign with the British Antarctic Territory coat of arms in the fly was introduced as a civil ensign.
The International Federation of Vexillological Associations is an international federation of 53 regional, national, and multinational associations and institutions across the globe that study vexillology, which FIAV defines in its constitution as "the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge."
The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (ATS) is a subsidiary body of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and, as such, performs its duties under the ATCM's direction. The ATCM is the forum that brings together the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, Non-Consultative Parties, Observers and Experts. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 and entered into force in 1961.
The flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands is a flag representing the overseas territory of France consisting of Adélie Land, the Crozet Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands, and the Scattered Islands. The flag was adopted on 23 February 2007.
Captain Arturo Prat Base is a Chilean Antarctic research station located at Iquique Cove, Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.
Damoy Point is a headland 900 metres (980 yd) west-northwest of Flag Point, the northern entrance point to the harbour of Port Lockroy, on the western side of Wiencke Island in the Palmer Archipelago of Antarctica. It was discovered and named by the French Antarctic Expedition, 1903–05, under Jean-Baptiste Charcot.
The Antarctic Treaty issue is a postage stamp that was issued by the United States Post Office Department on June 23, 1971. Designed by Howard Koslow, it commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, and is notable as Koslow's first postage stamp design.
The flag of Burlington, Vermont was adopted by the Burlington city council on November 27, 2017 during the mayorship of Miro Weinberger. It is five horizontal, zig-zag stripes of blue, white, green, white, and blue.
Antarctica Day is an international holiday recognizing the anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. It is celebrated on December 1 each year. Along with Midwinter Day, it is one of Antarctica's two principal holidays.
International competition extended to the continent of Antarctica during the World War II era, though the region saw no combat. During the prelude to war, Nazi Germany organised the 1938 Third German Antarctic Expedition to preempt Norway's claim to Queen Maud Land. The expedition served as the basis for a new German claim, called New Swabia. A year later, the United States Antarctic Service Expedition established two bases, which operated for two years before being abandoned. Responding to these encroachments, and taking advantage of Europe's wartime turmoil, the nearby nations of Chile and Argentina made their own claims. In 1940 Chile proclaimed the Chilean Antarctic Territory in areas already claimed by Britain, while Argentina proclaimed Argentine Antarctica in 1943 in an overlapping area.
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