List of Antarctic flags

This list includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used in Antarctica. As a condominium with no single governing body, the continent of Antarctica does not have an official flag of its own. However, several designs have been created for the purpose of representing the continent.

Antarctic flag proposals

Flag Date Use Description
1929 RRS Discovery crew Plain white flag
1978[1] Whitney Smith's proposal. An orange field bearing an emblem consisting of a pair of hands holding a segment of a disk representing Earth with the letter "A" representing Antarctica.
1995[2] Joanne Cooper and Stefan Tucker's proposal. An orange field bearing an outline of Antarctica, a compass pointing south at the bottom left, and the outline of a penguin to the right.
1996[3] Graham Bartram's proposal. A white outline of Antarctica on a UN-blue background.
1999[3][4] Dave Hamilton's proposal. The pale blue strip represents pack ice, the dark blue stripe represents the night sky and the yellow stripe is a representation of the aurora australis. The famous stellar constellation the Southern Cross is shown in the dark blue stripe at the right.
2007/2008[3] Olivier Leroi's proposal. The flag is vertically divided in four stripes — black, off-white, orange, and gray — reproducing the proportions of the colors on the "livery" (feathers) of an emperor penguin, selected as Antarctica's emblematic animal.
2018[5][6] Evan Townsend's proposal (True South flag) According to the flag's promoters, it signifies: "Horizontal stripes of navy and white represent the long days and nights at Antarctica's extreme latitude. In the center, a lone white peak erupts from a field of snow and ice, echoing those of the bergs, mountains, and pressure ridges that define the Antarctic horizon. The long shadow it casts forms the unmistakable shape of a compass arrow pointed south, an homage to the continent's legacy of exploration. Together, the two center shapes create a diamond, symbolizing the hope that Antarctica will continue to be a center of peace, discovery, and cooperation for generations to come."
2024 Graham Bartram's 2024 redesign. An Antarctic shape made of colorful microplastic-like spots on a blue background.

Flags of international Antarctic organizations

Flag Date Use Description
1961,[7][8] formalized in 2002[9] Flag of the Antarctic Treaty System Logo of the organization in 2:3 proportions. A white outline of Antarctica over a dark blue field with lines representing longitude and latitude counterchanged on top.
2013–present[10] Flag of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Logo of the organization in 2:3 proportions. A white outline of Antarctica on a blue field defaced with the acronym of the organization, surrounded by the text "The International Council for Science" and "Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research" arranged in a circle within a white circular line.

Flags of Antarctic territorial claims

Flag Date Use Description
1999–present[11] Argentine Antarctica, in Tierra del Fuego Province. The blue symbolizes the sky and sea surrounding the province, while the Southern Cross reflects the night sky and the albatross itself is a local bird that represents freedom through flight.
1963–present[12] British Antarctic Territory A UK white ensign less the cross of St. George defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory.
A UK blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory.
1997–present[13] Chilean Antarctic Territory, in Magallanes Region. The blue color represents the night sky, while the golden peaks symbolize the steppe region, white indicates the snow that often falls in winter, and the Southern Cross symbolizes the position of the area.
2007–present[14] Adélie Land, in French Southern and Antarctic Territories. The flag consists of a blue field with the French flag with white fimbriation on the canton. The charge consists of 5 stars (for the five regions of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories) and the letters "TAAF" (from the French name of the territory, Terres australes et antarctiques françaises) forming a monogram in the shape of anchor.
Proposals
1995[15] Ross Dependency The New Zealand flag is the basis for his design, though with an 'Ice Blue' background representing the Ross Sea, and the white horizontal bar at the bottom of the flag representing the Ross Ice Shelf.

Antarctic expedition flags

Flag Date Use Description
1902–1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition Scottish saltire with the letters "S-N-A-E" as an acronym for "Scottish National Antarctic Expedition".
1910–1912 Imperial Japanese Antarctic Expedition
1933–1939 Byrd's Second Antarctic Expedition
1946–1948 Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition
1947–present French Antarctic Expedition, also used in the Arctic.
1979–1982 "Transglobe" Expedition UK flag defaced with a globe and an arrow circumnavigate it from North to South.

Sledge flags

To make it easier to recognize the participants of the expedition, flags were placed on the sleighs. British expeditions used distinctly complex, embroidered designs for this purpose.

Southern Cross Expedition

Discovery Expedition

Nimrod Expedition

Terra Nova Expedition

Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

John Lachlan Cope's Expedition to Graham Land

British Graham Land Expedition

Antarctic base flags

Flag Base Country Description
Amundsen–Scott South Pole United States White variant of the flag of the USAP: plain white field charged with the logo of the United States Antarctic Program.
Palmer Station United States Blue variant of the flag of the USAP: plain blue field charged with the logo of the United States Antarctic Program.
Captain Arturo Prat Chile Plain white field charged with the coat of arms of the base.
Gabriel de Castilla Spain The flag of Spain with the emblem of the base in the center.

Other flags

Flag Date Use Description
1897–1899 Historical burgee of the Royal Yacht Club of Belgium in Antwerp, which was used as a masthead pennant by the RV Belgica during the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–1899. A white swallowtail pennant defaced with the intertwined initials "YC" in black and gold, and two red triangles placed along the hoist.[36]
1910–1912 Name pennant of the Fram during Roald Amundsen's Antarctic expedition. When Amundsen and four of his men conquered the South Pole in December 1911, they erected a tent from which this flag was hoisted underneath the Norwegian flag itself. A white pennant surrounded by a blue border along the top and bottom and defaced with the name "FRAM." in blue letters.[37]
Link to file 1949–present Pennant of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions
1979[38] 50th Anniversary Commemorative Flag of Byrd's historic flight over the South Pole.
2000–present[39] Burgee of the Ross Island Yacht Club Antarctica (RIYCA) White represents the ice and purity. Blue represents the sky and valor. The silhouette depicts Shakleton's efforts on the waters around Ross Island. The Antarctic Skua, inspires freedom found in the south and a free meal wherever it may be found. The bloodshot red bowsprit reflects the directional desires on earth and on the wheel of life.
2004–present[40][41] Antarctic Vexillological Association Blue represents the 24-hour day of the summer season, black represents the 24-hour night of the winter season, and white represents the ice and snow of the Antarctic continent. The Diamond in the middle if divided across the equator represents the "A" of Antarctica and "V" of Vexillology. The Diamond also represents the 4 compass points representing the compass points leading away from the geographic South Pole.
2020[42] 200th Anniversary Commemorative Flag of Russia in Antarctica
?–present Antarctic flag used by Quark Expeditions

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Antarctica — Whitney Smith proposal". Flags Of The World (FOTW). 2 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  2. ^ Proceedings of the XX International Congress of Vexillology, Stockholm, 27th July to 1st August 2003. Jan Oskar Engene, Nordic Flag Society. Bergen, Norway: Nordic Flag Society. 2004. ISBN 82-996983-1-6. OCLC 224266642.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Antarctica — flag proposals". Flags Of The World (FOTW). 2 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  4. ^ Mathers, Kyle. "Antarctica 2 Dollar". banknoteindex.com. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Antarctica — True South proposal". Flags Of The World (FOTW). 2 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  6. ^ "True South". truesouthflag.com. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Antarctic treaty, first consultative meeting, 10 Jul 1961" (PDF) (in French).
  8. ^ "Postage stamp issues to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, 1961". Polar Record. 16 (100): 104–105. January 1972. doi:10.1017/S0032247400062677. ISSN 1475-3057. The representatives recommend their governments:...that the most prominent feature of the stamp should be the Atlantic Treaty emblem representing a map of Antarctica, which appears on the official documents of consultative meetings;
  9. ^ "Antarctic Treaty database - Decision 2 (2002) - ATCM XXV - CEP V, Warsaw". www.ats.aq. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  10. ^ Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (25 February 2013). "Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  11. ^ "SAIJ". www.saij.gob.ar. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  12. ^ Martinez, Peter (1999). "Proc. XVII International Congress of Vexillology" (PDF). Proc. XVII International Congress of Vexillology: 233–237 – via www.fiav.com.
  13. ^ Nacional, Biblioteca del Congreso. "Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional | Ley Chile". www.bcn.cl/leychile (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  14. ^ T.A.A.F. (February 3, 2007). "Order n° 2007-18 of February 23, 2007" (PDF). Journal Officiel des Terres Australes et Antartiques Français (in French). 33: 16–17 – via taaf.fr.
  15. ^ "Ross Dependency". Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Burgee of Pirate Yacht Club, Bridlington". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Scott's Sledging Flag". Exeter Cathedral. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  18. ^ Barbara Tomlinson. "Chivalry at the Poles: British Sledge Flags" (PDF file). Flag Institute.
  19. ^ "Tom Crean (1877–1938) - an Irish hero by Michael Smith". Irish History 1916 through to 1923 (Facebook page). 29 October 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  20. ^ "A sledging flag used by Dr Edward Adrian Wilson on the British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-04 (Discovery)". Scott Polar Research Institute. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Square, blue and white silk sledging flag with an embroidered coat of arms that belonged to expedition surgeon Eric S. Marshall (1879–1963), one of four men to reach the Furthest South on 9 January 1908 along with Jameson Adams, Ernest Shackleton and Frank Wild during the British Antarctic Expedition 1907–09 (Nimrod)". Scott Polar Research Institute. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  22. ^ "Sledge flag, Robert Falcon Scott". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  23. ^ "This is the second of Scott's sledging flags on the Terra Nova expedition..." Christie's. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Edward Atkinson... A naval medical officer and explorer who joined Captain Scott's Antarctic Expedition. Atkinson donated the expedition flag to the School and it now hangs in pride of place in the Dining Hall". Forest School (Facebook page). 23 November 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  25. ^ Victor Campbell and H.G.R. King. "The Wicked Mate: The Antarctic Diary of Victor Campbell". Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  26. ^ "Keohane's sledging flag, sewn and embroidered by him in the hut at Cape Evans, and carried by him on the expedition". Christie's. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  27. ^ Melaina Haas (5 May 2010). "100-year-old Antarctic artifact, once again, travels the globe". Royal BC Museum Blog. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  28. ^ "A sledging flag used by Dr Edward Adrian Wilson on the British Antarctic Expedition (Terra Nova)". Scott Polar Research Institute. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  29. ^ Phillips, Elen. "Captain Scott's Welsh Flag". Amgueddfa Cymru.
  30. ^ "National flag of New Zealand". Royal Museums Greenwich.
  31. ^ "Scott Expedition Wilson Flag, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge". Icon - The Institute of Conservation. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  32. ^ "Flag". Amgueddfa Cymru. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  33. ^ David Prothero (27 December 2003). "United Kingdom: Sledge Flags - James Wordie's flag". Flags of the World. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  34. ^ Anji Archer (25 April 2023). "The completed Thomas Bagshawe Pennant". Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  35. ^ "A sledging flag belonging to Brian Birley Roberts and used on the British Graham Land Expedition 1934-37 (Penola)". Scott Polar Research Institute. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  36. ^ "Pennant of Antarctic ship Belgica recognised as cultural heritage". Belga News Agency. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  37. ^ "The official replica of Fram's South Pole expedition onboard flag". Fram - The Polar Exploration Museum. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  38. ^ "50th anniversary of Byrd's historic flight". www.southpolestation.com. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  39. ^ Rejcek, Peter (September 6, 2013). "Join The Club - Enthusiasts Find Common Ground (Air, Water) At McMurdo Station". The Antarctic Sun. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  40. ^ "Antarctic Vexillological Association". Facebook. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  41. ^ "Antarctic Vexillological Association". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  42. ^ "Commemorative flag for the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica travels to the ice continent". ROSSOTRUDNICHESTVO. July 21, 2020. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
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