Antarctica
British Antarctic Territory (BAT) is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its 14 British Overseas Territories. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes 20°W and 80°W, forming a wedge shape that extends to the South Pole. The Territory was formed on 3rd March 1962.
The United Kingdom has had a continuous presence in the far South Atlantic since 1833 when it reasserted sovereignty over its Falkland Islands. In 1908, the UK extended its territorial claim by declaring sovereignty over South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands, the Sandwich Islands, and Graham's Land, situated in the South Atlantic Ocean and on the Antarctic continent. High temperatures at the South Pole in summer average at −25.9 °C. In winter the average temperature remains steady at around −58 °C. The highest temperature ever recorded was −12.3 °C on the 25th December 2011, and the lowest was −82.8 °C on the 23rd June 1982. |
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