Why Antarctica Always Appears White on Maps
Antarctica is represented as white on maps for several reasons. Primarily, the continent's white appearance is due to its extensive ice cover and cartographic conventions. Understanding these factors can provide a deeper insight into the visual representation of the continent.
Ice Cover: A Reflective Natural Feature
Ice Cover
The most significant reason for Antarctica appearing white on maps is the vast amount of ice that covers the continent. The ice is so thick and reflective that it has a high albedo (reflectivity), making it appear white. This ice sheet covers about 60% of the world's fresh water. For context, the ice sheet extends over vast areas, stretching to elevations often surpassing 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) in the interior. This elevation adds to the white appearance, as snow and ice reflect more sunlight, further emphasizing the white contrast on maps.
On topographic and other natural feature maps, Antarctica is predominantly colored white, reflecting its icy and mountainous terrain. The high elevation and ice cover contribute to the uniform white appearance, which is a visual representation of its icy landscape.
Cartographic Convention: A Historical Practice
Cartographic Convention
Mapmakers have long used the color white to represent areas predominantly covered in ice or snow. This convention is deeply ingrained in cartography and makes it easier to distinguish icy regions from land and water areas, which are typically depicted in different colors. This is particularly useful in polar regions where large areas are often covered in ice and snow.
In political maps, Antarctica's representation as white is both a natural continuation of this cartographic convention and a reflection of its status as a unique entity. As a Terra nullius, or no-man's-land, Antarctica is neither claimed by any single country nor is it incorporated into any national territory. Instead, it is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, which organizes its operation and management in a manner that recognizes its unique status.
A Unique Political Status
A Special Political Status
Antarctica's political status is particularly noteworthy. It is largely unclaimed and falls under the Antarctic Treaty System. This system regulates activities in Antarctica to ensure the continent remains a scientific and peaceful zone. Political maps often do not show the national claims on Antarctica, but more detailed maps might provide a visual representation of the territorial claims as 'pizza slices' centered around the South Pole.
The largest piece of terra nullius on Earth is Marie Byrd Land, which further emphasizes the unique and unclaimed status of parts of Antarctica. Given this special status, it makes sense for Antarctica to maintain a unique 'political' color on world maps, and that color is almost always white.
Color Coding and informational Maps
Color Coding in Maps
Most maps employ color coding to convey additional information about the territories they depict. For example, ecological maps might use green for forests, light green for grasslands, brown for deserts, and blue for lakes and rivers, with white representing ice and snow. This color scheme can provide a clear visual representation of glaciers, ice caps, and the icy landscape of Antarctica and Greenland.
On political maps, every country is colored differently to distinguish them. Since Antarctica is not divided into countries, it is colored white to highlight its unique status and to make it visually distinct from other territories.
In conclusion, the whiteness of Antarctica on maps is a holistic representation of both its natural and political characteristics. The combination of ice cover and cartographic conventions creates a visual identity that accurately reflects the continent's unique status in both the natural and human realms.