Argentine Antarctica mainland. Argentina was the only nation to have an Antarctic base for 40 years until the British built a base on the same islands. Argentina bases its claims on this sector of Antarctica on the following grounds: Argentina's claim to the Antarctic Peninsula overlaps with the Antarctic claims of Chile, 53°W to 90°W, and the UK claims, 20°W to 80°W. Currently, there are no attempts by Argentina or any other country to enforce territorial claims in Antarctica. See List of Antarctic territorial claims. None of these claims have international recognition and have been suspended by the Antarctic Treaty in 1961.
Research stations in Antarctica Roald Amundsen already ashore preparing for his assault on the South Pole. In 1903, Dr William S. Bruce's Scottish National Antarctic Expedition set off to Antarctica, with one of its aims to establish a meteorological station in the area. After the expedition failed to find land, Bruce decided to head back to the Laurie Island in the South Orkneys and find an anchorage there. The islands were well-situated as a site for a meteorological station, and their relative proximity to the South American mainland allowed a permanent station to be established. Bruce instituted a comprehensive programme of work, involving meteorological