Antarctica, the southernmost continent on Earth, is unique in both its geography and history. Unlike any other landmass, it is almost entirely covered by ice, holding about 60% of the world's fresh water. The existence of Antarctica was only speculated until the early 19th century, when explorers first sighted the continent in 1820. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Antarctica became the focus of intense international exploration, most notably during the “Heroic Age” featuring expeditions by Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton. These explorers braved extreme conditions to unlock the mysteries of the icy wilderness. Unlike other continents, Antarctica has never had an indigenous human population, and to date, it remains unclaimed by any country. Instead, its governance is regulated by the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 by twelve nations and now supported by over fifty countries, which preserves the continent for peaceful scientific research and environmental protection.