On December 1, 1959, the indefinite Antarctic Treaty was signed. It established the status quo, froze territorial claims, and formalized principles governing the activities of all states in this vital and coldest region of the planet. Antarctica includes the Antarctic continent, discovered in 1820 by Russian explorers F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev, as well as the adjacent southern waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Key Provisions: The signatory countries renounced attempts to establish sovereignty over their zones of influence and refrained from disputing the claims of others. Antarctica was declared a demilitarized zone: all military actions, the construction of military bases, and weapons testing are prohibited. The region was opened for international scientific research, information exchange, and collaboration. As of today, 54 countries are parties to the Treaty, of which 29 have consultative status (including Russia) and can participate in decision-making. Over time, an international system of agreements has been developed around the Treaty to regulate environmental protection, fishing, tourism, and the extraction of natural resources. Russia is an active participant in the Treaty. The Russian Foreign Policy Concept emphasizes that the country will continue efforts to preserve and further develop the Antarctic Treaty System. Russia conducts continuous scientific research in Antarctica. The Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) operates year-round at five stations: "Novolazarevskaya," "Bellingshausen," "Mirny," "Progress," and "Vostok." During the summer, additional work is conducted at seasonal field bases: "Molodezhnaya," "Druzhnaya-4," "Bangera Oasis," "Russkaya," and "Leningradskaya."