The polar tourism boom is in full swing, but fragile Antarctica can't take it.

Antarctica, untouched by human footsteps for hundreds of millions of years, has long been the last "virgin continent" on Earth. Yet, its pristine and tranquil environment is now under threat, as the deep tourism and adventure expeditions that have gained popularity among travelers in recent years are "invading" every corner of the continent, even reaching its remote inland areas.

　　A London-based adventure travel agency recently launched a submarine tour project, while a German tourism organization is preparing to offer a glider flight over the Antarctic Plateau to the South Pole. According to preliminary statistics from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), the number of tourists during the 2012-2013 season was around 27,000.

　　Located at the end of the world, Antarctica covers an area of 14 million square kilometers, making it the fifth-largest continent on Earth. It is the continent with the highest average latitude and elevation, with an average altitude of over 2,000 meters. Ninety-eight percent of the Antarctic continent is covered by ice and snow year-round, with an ice sheet area of about 2 million square kilometers and an average thickness of 2,000 to 2,500 meters, reaching a maximum thickness of 4,800 meters. Its freshwater reserves account for approximately 90% of the world's total freshwater. If the Antarctic ice sheet were to melt entirely, the global average sea level would rise by 60 meters.

　　This vast frozen land is almost the world's only remaining virgin territory. Discovered in 1820 by Russian explorer Lazarev, Antarctica still has no permanent human settlements, with only a few long-term residential points being scientific research stations. In the harshly cold climate of Antarctica, plants struggle to grow, with only occasional sightings of mosses, lichens, and other vegetation. Birds and marine mammals can be found near the coasts and islands. In summer, penguins often gather along the coast, forming a quintessential Antarctic scene. The main marine mammals include seals, sea lions, and dolphins. The oceans surrounding the continent are among the world's important whaling grounds. Due to excessive hunting, whale populations have significantly declined, and marine mammals like seals have nearly disappeared. According to scientific surveys, there are only about 850 plant species in Antarctica, most of which are lower plants. Both the variety and quantity of plant life not only pale in comparison to other continents but also fall far short of those in the Arctic region.

　　Antarctica is located in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasonal cycle is the exact opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. Due to the unique polar environment, which causes phenomena like the midnight sun and polar night, the tourist season in Antarctica is mainly concentrated in the summer months, from November to March of the following year, when people can enjoy longer daylight hours each day.

　　For most tourist attractions, an annual influx of 30,000 visitors is nothing unusual and does not cause environmental impacts. However, for Antarctica's fragile ecosystem, every footprint left by a tourist can have serious consequences.

　　Recent dramatic changes in Antarctica's environment are alarming. On the Antarctic Peninsula (located at the northernmost part of the continent, near Argentina and Chile), the average annual temperature is -3°C, which is 2°C higher than it was 50 years ago. Over these 50 years, winter temperatures have risen by 6°C, five times the global average rate of warming. Nearly 90% of the ice layers are degrading, and coastal ice now only exists for five months a year, three months less than it did 30 years ago. Scientists generally believe that, in addition to global climate change being the primary cause, human activities are also partly to blame.

　　Alan Hemmings, an environmental expert from New Zealand who participated in the negotiations for the Antarctic Treaty, calls for the immediate implementation of existing tourism management regulations for Antarctica and the development of more detailed and specific management rules: "I think things have gotten out of control in recent years. Agreements that take five or ten years to implement can't keep up with the current trends."

　　The internationally recognized document governing Antarctica is the Antarctic Treaty and its related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System. This treaty came into effect on June 23, 1961, and has since been recognized and joined by 50 countries. However, its ability to constrain Antarctic tourism is minimal, with countries still acting independently and pursuing their own interests. The Antarctic International Management Committee has only passed two regulations since its establishment, which have remained largely symbolic.

　　"Ways of playing" are getting crazier

　　What worries Hemmings is not only the increasing number of tourists visiting Antarctica but also the trend of continuously innovating tourism formats.

　　Early tourists to Antarctica were mostly elderly, who typically just stood on the deck of a ship to watch penguins along the shore. Nowadays, visitors are venturing deeper into the inland areas of the continent, and tourism activities have expanded to include so-called "adventure tourism" such as skydiving and deep-sea diving.

　　"In the past, tourists to Antarctica were mainly middle-aged and elderly, and there were few tourist spots—just observing animals, visiting historical sites, or a research station," Hemmings said with concern. "Now, tourism activities are becoming more diverse, and experiential tourism has been added."

　　A London-based adventure travel agency has also offered submarine tours since the last tourism season, and a German tourism organization once invited Hemmings to participate in their planned glider flight over the Antarctic Plateau to the South Pole.
Preserve a pristine land for them 

　　Environmentalists are concerned that increased human activity will harm Antarctica's environment, such as destroying animal habitats, introducing invasive species or microorganisms, or relocating flora and fauna from one part of the continent to another.

　　Torgersen Island in Antarctica has been the home of Adélie penguins since ancient times, where the penguins living there were never disturbed by humans. However, besides the usual noise of penguins, there is now an unfamiliar sound on the island—the shutter click of cameras. Torgersen Island is one of the largest habitats for Adélie penguins, but their numbers are rapidly declining, with fewer than 2,000 breeding pairs remaining, just a quarter of the population in the 1970s.

　　The greatest concern comes from the risk of ship oil spills. In 1989, the Argentine Navy supply ship Bahia Paraiso, carrying tourists to visit the U.S. Palmer Research Station, hit rocks and capsized. Although no lives were lost, the leaked oil contaminated the habitats of nearby penguins, seals, and cormorants.

　　Similar incidents are not isolated. Beth Clark, director of the Antarctic Protection Project, said: "The influx of tourists will disrupt the breeding and survival of wildlife, leading to a decline in animal populations."

　　Neil Gilbert, head of New Zealand's Antarctic Environment Management, believes that Antarctic tourism requires a more comprehensive monitoring mechanism: "The Antarctic Peninsula may be the fastest-warming region on Earth. Although the impact of the increasing number of tourists on the environment is still uncertain, the dramatic environmental changes are undeniable."

　　The United Nations shipping regulatory body, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), announced in 2011 that to reduce the risk of fuel spills, the use of heavy fuel oil is prohibited in areas above 60 degrees latitude. However, industry insiders believe this measure will only have a temporary effect, as cruise companies using lighter fuels will not be significantly impacted in their operations.

　　The hottest spots for Antarctic tourism are the Antarctic Peninsula, known for its relatively mild climate and richer flora and fauna, and the Ross Sea on the other side of the continent near New Zealand. During the 17-week-long Antarctic summer tourism season, these two areas shine brilliantly due to the extended daylight.

　　Visiting Antarctica also poses risks to tourists. Mount Erebus (also translated as Mount Elbrus, located in southwestern Antarctica) on Ross Island stands as a massive warning sign for visitors: in 1979, a New Zealand passenger plane full of tourists crashed into Mount Erebus due to temporary visual impairment of the crew, resulting in the deaths of all 257 people on board. Since then, Antarctic air sightseeing services were closed for a long time and only resumed in the mid-1990s.

　　The dangers of Antarctic tourism mainly come from extreme cold, altitude sickness, and strong winds. Antarctica is the coldest, driest, highest-altitude, and windiest region on Earth. Many tourists experience oxygen deficiency, and the exceptionally dry air creates pervasive static electricity, which can cause electronic devices to malfunction.

　　"Disasters can strike anyone," Hemmings said.