What Can You Not Do in Antarctica? Shocking Rules Explained

Antarctica isn't lawless—far from it

When people imagine Antarctica, they often think of a vast frozen desert, no laws, no humans, just penguins and snowstorms. But surprise: there are strict rules down there. And not just random “don't litter” kind of stuff. We're talking international-level regulations.

Governed mainly by the Antarctic Treaty System, this icy continent is a unique case in global law. You can't just roll up with a backpack and do whatever you want. There are things you absolutely can’t do—some obvious, some kind of bizarre.

You can't claim land (not even a tiny bit)

No flags, no nations, no colonies

Antarctica is technically not owned by anyone. Multiple countries have made territorial claims (like the UK, Chile, Argentina…), but thanks to the Antarctic Treaty (signed in 1959), no new claims are allowed, and existing ones are basically frozen in time (pun totally intended).

So, yeah—planting a flag and calling it “Bob's Ice Kingdom” is a no-go.

You can't disturb the wildlife (like, really can’t)

Penguins have priority, not you

No touching, no chasing, not even standing too close. Seriously.
If you see a seal? Keep your distance. If a penguin waddles up to you, you stay still—let it decide what it wants.

There’s a reason for that: human presence can severely stress the animals, mess with their feeding or mating behavior, or worse, expose them to foreign bacteria.

And yeah, you’re not allowed to bring pets either. Your dog might be cute, but it's banned.

No mining, drilling, or resource exploitation

Keep your drills and greed at home

Antarctica is rich in minerals, apparently. But according to the Madrid Protocol (1991), it’s off-limits for mining or oil exploration.
It’s kind of wild, right? An entire continent where resource extraction is illegal.

Even scientific drilling is tightly controlled. You can’t just poke around looking for gold or dinosaur bones. And believe it or not, some countries would be down for that—if it weren’t prohibited.

You can’t leave trash—or take anything either

Clean in, clean out

Everything you bring to Antarctica? You have to bring it back. That includes your trash, leftover food, even your poop (yep, human waste is bagged and shipped out).
Leave no trace is more than just a slogan down there—it’s enforced.

Also, you can’t take “souvenirs” like rocks or feathers. Not even a scoop of snow. It all stays.

I remember chatting with a guide who worked at a station near the South Pole. He said they once had to report a lost plastic fork. That’s how strict it is.

Tourism is allowed—but not freely

No dropping in uninvited

Tourism in Antarctica isn’t forbidden, but it’s heavily regulated. You can’t just buy a ticket and fly to the South Pole. Tours have to be approved, often run through operators that follow the IAATO guidelines (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators—yes, that’s real).

You also need special permits, especially if you plan to do anything beyond the basic “take pictures and go home” itinerary.

Solo travel? Basically impossible. Camping alone in the cold, dark heart of Antarctica? Probably illegal. And suicidal, to be honest.

So… what CAN you do?

Well, you can observe, study, respect, and if you're lucky, marvel at the quiet beauty of a place almost untouched by human chaos. It’s not about what you can’t do—it’s more about why you shouldn't do certain things.

Antarctica isn’t a theme park. It’s one of the last wild, rule-bound frontiers. And maybe, just maybe, that’s why it still feels magical.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.