Tag: Antarctica

Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed the national flag to Arunima Sinha, the first woman amputee to climb the Mount Everest, as she embarked on an expedition to Mount Viscon in Antarctica. Sinha, a former Indian national volleyball player, had her left leg amputated below the knee after being thrown from a train while resisting a robbery bid. “It was a delight to interact with Arunima Sinha. Handed over the tricolour and wished her the very best as she embarks on an expedition to Mount Vinson, Antarctica. India is proud of Arunima’s accomplishments and her fortitude inspires us all,” Modi tweeted. ... Read more

The 53 member countries of the Antarctic Treaty at their annual meeting held in Buenos Aires warned that tourism should be regulated in Antarctica urgently owing to the environmental threats it possesses. According to French authorities, 44,000 tourists visited Antarctica during the austral summer of 2016-17 when compared with just 9,000 tourists in 1995-96. Segolene Royal, French ambassador for the Arctic and Antarctic poles, said that with the lack of rules and regulations, travel agencies offer trips to Antarctica on boats equipped with helicopters or submarines occasionally. “These activities create considerable disturbance. We are witnessing a race toward large-scale tourism ... Read more