The Graham Bertram Flag (unofficial)
The most recognizable flag the Graham Bertram Flag which, while unofficial, is usually utilized to represent the whole continent. It's the only Antarctic flag that has been recognized as a standardized emoji (🇦🇶). The flag was modeled off of the flag of the United Nations, using the same color scheme of UN blue and white, and features an Antarctica undivided by national or territorial borders. It stands for the unity of the continent as an international territory.
While still technically unofficial, it's become more or less universally recognized. The Graham Bertram Flag first flew over the Antarctic continent in 2002.
Another one of my all-time favorite flags is that of the British Antarctic territory. Unfortunately, since the field of the flag is white, it doesn't show up very well on my blog... Interestingly, I'm almost certain it's the only white flag of a country or territory.
Anyway, the white field is, of course, in reference to the snow and ice of the continent, but also in tribute to the plain white flag which British explorers flew on the earliest expeditions to Antarctica.
The flag features the coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory. It's got a penguin, an ice burg, and a sailing ship. The motto reads "research and discovery". Just an all around cool (haha) flag.
Technically this is the flag of the Argentine province of Tiera del Fuego, but the mainland South American continental portion of the territory is so tiny and the Antarctic portion of the territory is so large that it's worth including here. The flag is flown over Argentinian research bases.
The flag features the Southern Cross and is bisected by a stylized albatross, a southern bird that serves as the symbol of Tiera del Fuego.
Chile's Antarctic claim is a part of the country's Magallanes Region (named after the explorer Ferdinand Magellan and the Magellan Strait). The blue stands for the night sky and is filled with the constellation of the Southern Cross. The six golden peaks represent the mountainous geography of the region and are capped with snow.
Although the flag is a regional flag, the territory of the region also encompasses the Chilean Antarctic claim and is flown above research bases and on expeditions in Antarctica. Recently, the Magellan people have adopted the flag as a symbol of regionalism, which some Chileans denounce as separatism.
The Ross Dependency is the name of New Zealand's claimed territory in Antarctica. While the official flag of the territory is just the national flag of New Zealand, this unofficial flag is flown over research bases in Antarctica.
The flag features the New Zealand flag in a lighter, icier shade of blue. There's a white bar at the bottom of the flag (again, hard to see on this blog) which represents the Ross Ice Shelf.
I would be happy to see this flag officially adopted. It's already in use and I think it looks really nice.
But wait...
...there's more.
Tomorrow, let's have a look at my favorite US state flags!
I mean, I'm still stuck in quarantine. What else have I got to write about these days?
British Antarctic Territory
Another one of my all-time favorite flags is that of the British Antarctic territory. Unfortunately, since the field of the flag is white, it doesn't show up very well on my blog... Interestingly, I'm almost certain it's the only white flag of a country or territory.
Anyway, the white field is, of course, in reference to the snow and ice of the continent, but also in tribute to the plain white flag which British explorers flew on the earliest expeditions to Antarctica.
The flag features the coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory. It's got a penguin, an ice burg, and a sailing ship. The motto reads "research and discovery". Just an all around cool (haha) flag.
Argentine Antarctica
Technically this is the flag of the Argentine province of Tiera del Fuego, but the mainland South American continental portion of the territory is so tiny and the Antarctic portion of the territory is so large that it's worth including here. The flag is flown over Argentinian research bases.
The flag features the Southern Cross and is bisected by a stylized albatross, a southern bird that serves as the symbol of Tiera del Fuego.
Chilean Antarctic Territory
Chile's Antarctic claim is a part of the country's Magallanes Region (named after the explorer Ferdinand Magellan and the Magellan Strait). The blue stands for the night sky and is filled with the constellation of the Southern Cross. The six golden peaks represent the mountainous geography of the region and are capped with snow.
Although the flag is a regional flag, the territory of the region also encompasses the Chilean Antarctic claim and is flown above research bases and on expeditions in Antarctica. Recently, the Magellan people have adopted the flag as a symbol of regionalism, which some Chileans denounce as separatism.
Ross Dependency (unofficial)
The Ross Dependency is the name of New Zealand's claimed territory in Antarctica. While the official flag of the territory is just the national flag of New Zealand, this unofficial flag is flown over research bases in Antarctica.
The flag features the New Zealand flag in a lighter, icier shade of blue. There's a white bar at the bottom of the flag (again, hard to see on this blog) which represents the Ross Ice Shelf.
I would be happy to see this flag officially adopted. It's already in use and I think it looks really nice.
But wait...
...there's more.
Tomorrow, let's have a look at my favorite US state flags!
I mean, I'm still stuck in quarantine. What else have I got to write about these days?
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