British Antarctic Territory

British Antarctic Territory is an area of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom as one of its fourteen British Overseas Territories. However, since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, most countries do not recognize territorial claims in Antarctica. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes 20°W and 80°W, overlapping the claims of Argentina and Chile.

The Territory was formed 3 March 1962, although the UK's claim to this portion of the Antarctic dates back to letters patent of 1908 and 1917. Before 1962, its three regions, Graham Land, the South Orkney Islands, and the South Shetland Islands, were administered by the British as separate dependencies of the Falkland Islands.