Antarctica and ice shelves south of 60° S for the purposes of the Treaty System. The treaty was signed by twelve countries including the Soviet Union (and later Russia), the United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and the United States. It set aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, established freedom of scientific investigation and environmental protection, and banned military activity on Antarctica. This was the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War. In 1983 the Antarctic Treaty Parties began negotiations on a convention to regulate mining in Antarctica. A coalition of international organisations launched a public pressure campaign to prevent
Lake Bonney (Antarctica) Lake Bonney (Antarctica) Lake Bonney ( ) is a saline lake with permanent ice cover at the western end of Taylor Valley in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Victoria Land, Antarctica. It is long and up to wide. A narrow channel only wide ("Lake Bonney at Narrows") separates the lake into "East Lake Bonney" () and "West Lake Bonney" (). To the north and south of the lake lie peaks that are over above sea level, and the Taylor Glacier is positioned to the west of the lake. It is deep and is perpetually trapped under of ice. It was