Antartica

This post is about Antarctica  There is a present no flag for the continent. Although it does have nine territories eight of which use flags. These are:Happy New Year everybody. I apologise I haven't updated sooner but at present I am very very busy. But here are some designs I made before Christmas. I apologise for the big space above I don't know why that is.

Name: British Antarctic Territory

Country: United Kingdom
Flag: White Ensign defaced with territories coat of arms


Name: Ross Dependency

Country: Ne ZealandFlag: Official flag is the National flag of NZ although an unofficial flag exists which is a light blue NZ flag.

Name: Adélie Land

Country: France
Flag: A French Blue ensign with a logo incorporating the letters FAAL for French Southern Antarctic Lands.

Name: Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land

Country: Norway

Flag: Both territories use the Norwegian flag and have no unique flag of their own







Name: Antártica

Country: Chilie

Flag: State flag of XII Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region






Name: Argentine Antarctica

Country: Argentina

Flag: Blue and orange field divided by white with a southern cross star formation in the fly.




Name: Australian Antarctic Territory

Country: Australia

Flag: National flag of Australia no unique flag of its own.

Name: Marie Byrd Land
Country: Unclaimed
Flag: None

Now There is a flag of the Antartic Treaty :

 

This incorperates a map of the continent but itself is not a flag of Antarctica but the nations (both with territorial claims and none territorial claims) that have agreed to protect it.

I was thinking the above territories could use a collective flag similar way Europe uses the EU flag.

It features the Earth design but with a lighter blue and the 'A' logo with a half globe and hands from the flag designed by Whitney Smith . And a star for each territory.

Flags that I have designed  for the territories that don't have flags are below.

Peter I Island,  Norway flag with a light blue field.

Queen Maud Land. Light Blue Scandinavian cross on white, set in a dark blue Scandinavian cross on white. 

Australian Antarctic Territory, Australia flag with light blue background on which the letters 'ATA' are occupying the space normally occupied by the Commonwealth star which has been moved to the fly. 

Marie Bryd Land, Antartic flag design in hoist with a single star. Light blue field with a single white stripe. As this is unclaimed a representative of each territory should be on a governing council to meet when matters regarding this region arise. 

Flags in this unless stated otherwise are not my designs 

All Comments welcome

Queen Elizabeth Land

After the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announcing it was going to name a large area (437,000 sq km) of British Antarctic Territory after HM the Queen, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee I thought it would be a good opportunity to think of a flag and arms for this new territory (or region if it is not going to be counted as a different territory from Antarctic territory.)
First lets look at the flag of BAT:

 

It is unusual as it is a white ensign, the only other use of a (UK) white ensign outside Queen's Ships (by which I mean Royal Navy, Royal Yacht Squadron and ships escorting the monarch) is BAT and  the Commissioner's flag of the Northern Lighthouse Board.

Like most UK overseas territories flags its and ensign defaced with the territories coat of arms.
This flag is the official flag of the territory however I am unsure if it is actually used.

The UK presence in Antarctic composes of the Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS Protector. (which can be deployed far and wide in the south) which uses the St Georges ensign more commonly called the white ensign, and three research stations of the British Antarctic Survey. I have seen pictures of a BAS station but it was only flying a Union Flag rather than the BAT flag.

However BAS ships do use a blue ensign defaced with the BAT shield:

  

I based the arms of Queen Elizabeth Land (or Liz Land as I like to call it) on the BAT arms:

The Helmet, supporters and base are the same. What has changed is the crest is now a crown, the motto is Latin for 'Duty and Devotion,' which is not only a good motto but a tribute to the Queen. 

The shield has also changed a little. the Torch has been replaced with the Queen's coat of arms defaced with the crowned 'E' as a permanent tribute. The Diamond is self explanatory. 

The Flag is a separate, more difficult issue. Do I  break from the tradition of using ensigns or more unique flag? 

My first design is really a copy of the BAT flag.

The Government ensign is the same but blue.

My next design breaks from the ensign tradition:

It keeps the diamond and waves design, and crowned 'E' logo. I also kept the Union Jack as Antartica is so fast and as there is nothing there but snow, and so many countries have claims and territory there, it would still be useful to let people know what boarder they have crossed. (although I don't think too many people will be out for a walk.) 

Alternatively you could replace the Union Jack with the defaced Royal Arms from the Coat of Arms:

The chances are this place will continue to use the BAT flag rather than adopt one but a bit of fun anyway.

I also recommend looking at my friend Leonardo Piccioni's idea as I think it is much better than mine the link is here.

All Comments Welcome

British Antarctic Territory and Survey flags are from Wikipeadia, all other picture are by Samuel McKittrick