Antarctica Has A Relatively Recent History, With The First Confirmed Sighting Of The Continent By Humans In 1820. Explorers From Several Countries Raced To Claim Territory, Leading To The Signing Of The Antarctic Treaty In 1959 To Ensure Peaceful Scientific Exploration And Protect The Continent’s Unique Environment. Since Then, Research Stations Have Been Established And International Cooperation Has Helped Further Our Understanding Of Antarctica’s Geology, Climate, And Wildlife.