Queen Maud Land : Ask Biography

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Queen Maud Land ( ) is a 2.8 million square kilometer (one million square mile) sector of Antarctica claimed as a dependent territory by Norway. The territory lies between 20° west and 45° east, between the British Antarctic Territory to the west and the Australian Antarctic Territory to the east. While the northern and southern borders are not officially defined, the region is presumed to extend from the South Pole to 60° south. The territory comprises one-sixth of the total area of Antarctica. Most of it is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet.

Norwegian Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen was the first person to set foot in the territory in 1930. On 14 January 1939, the territory was claimed by Norway. From 1939 until 1945, Germany claimed New Swabia, which consisted of part of Queen Maud Land. On 23 June 1961, Queen Maud Land became part of the Antarctic Treaty System, making it a demilitarized zone.

It is one of two Antarctic claims made by Norway, the other being Peter I Island. They are administrated by the Polar Affairs Department of the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police in Oslo. The territory is generally divided into five sectors: from west to east, Princess Martha Coast, Princess Astrid Coast, Princess Ragnhild Coast, Prince Harald Coast and Prince Olav Coast. The region is named for Maud (1869 � 1938), queen consort of King Haakon VII of Norway. The waters off the coast are called the King Haakon VII Sea by Norway.

There is no permanent population, although there are twelve active research stations housing up to a couple hundred scientists, the number fluctuating somewhat depending on the season. Six are occupied year-round, while the remainder are seasonal summer stations. The main airport for intercontinental flights is Troll Airfield, near the Norwegian Troll research station.