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Antarctica : P e o p l e & C u l t u r e |
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» Antarctic Continent was first discovered in 1820. The honour of who first sighted the continent is however still disputed.
At least once in each Antarctican's lifetime, a pilgrimage is made to Mimosa, on the western shore of Antarctica, site of the continent's only battle, in 1403 B.C., to repel foreign invaders.
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» Take people from all over the country, from all walks of life, and from the entire ethnic and socio-economic spectrum, toss them together in this stunningly beautiful, exotic, and hazardous landscape, then season the mixture with isolation and deprivation. Do this for about forty years. The result is...well, a rather unusual culture.
» To understand that culture, you have to understand the place. So, first I'll describe the structure of the U.S. Antarctic Program and the environment in which it operates. Then I'll go on to describe some of the cultural events and rituals that have developed over the years.
There's a lot of snow to cover, and I'm bound to forget things, so I welcome any and all input from fellow Antarcticans on the culture of our favorite southern land. In addition, though I've tried to be as accurate as possible, much of what follows is entirely subjective, based on my own experience. People with differing perceptions are welcome to let us know what they are.
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» The oldest city in Antarctica, and also the seat of the "government" of Antarctica, such as it is, is the city of Urdz , located on the northern shore. Urdz is home to the Great Hall, the most ancient man-built structure in Antarctica , dating back 40,000 years. The buildings in the city are comprised entirely of red quartz and blue glaciers. Urdz is the largest producer of roses in the nation, with over 10,000 varieties, including 100 different species of pure blues.
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