The Ross Sea sits off Antarctica’s coast as one of the planet’s last relatively untouched marine wildernesses, a hub for sea ice, krill, penguins and long-term science. Its remote shores host a small group of nations that operate research stations and seasonal field camps to study oceanography, biology and climate.
There are 4 Ross Sea Bordering Countries, ranging from Italy to United States. For each, you’ll find below the columns: Flag: Flag emoji for the country,Border type: How it borders the Ross Sea (coastal claim or coastal research presence) — max 15 words,Notable stations: Main coastal research stations on the Ross Sea (names and year) — max 15 words,Description: 30–50 word general-audience description (this must be the last column). Check the list you’ll find below for the full entries.
Which countries are considered Ross Sea bordering countries?
The four countries most directly involved along the Ross Sea coast are the United States (McMurdo/Scott logistics), New Zealand (Ross Dependency/Scott Base), Italy (Mario Zucchelli Station) and South Korea (Jang Bogo Station), each maintaining year-round or seasonal facilities in the region.
Do these countries hold territorial claims over the Ross Sea?
Only New Zealand asserts the Ross Dependency claim; however, the Antarctic Treaty system holds sovereignty claims in abeyance and prioritizes scientific cooperation, so activities there are managed through international research agreements rather than national control.
Ross Sea Bordering Countries
| Name: Common short country name (first column) | Flag: Flag emoji for the country | Border type: How it borders the Ross Sea (coastal claim or coastal research presence) — max 15 words | Notable stations: Main coastal research stations on the Ross Sea (names and year) — max 15 words | Description: 30–50 word general-audience description (this must be the last column) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 🇳🇿 | Territorial claimant; coastal research presence | Scott Base (1957) | New Zealand administers the Ross Dependency, the territorial claim that includes the Ross Sea. It operates Scott Base on Ross Island (1957) alongside international stations. Under the Antarctic Treaty, New Zealand’s claim is maintained but new claims are frozen and activities governed by treaty rules. |
| United States | 🇺🇸 | Coastal research presence; no territorial claim | McMurdo Station (1956) | The United States maintains McMurdo Station on Ross Island (1956), giving it a major coastal research presence though the U.S. has not made a territorial claim. Activities there operate under the Antarctic Treaty system, which prioritizes peaceful research and freezes sovereignty disputes. |
| Italy | 🇮🇹 | Coastal research presence; no territorial claim | Mario Zucchelli Station (1986) | Italy runs Mario Zucchelli Station at Terra Nova Bay (1986), a year-round coastal research base on the western Ross Sea margin. Italy makes no Antarctic territorial claim; its operations are conducted under Antarctic Treaty rules emphasizing scientific collaboration and environmental protection. |
| South Korea | 🇰🇷 | Coastal research presence; no territorial claim | Jang Bogo Station (2014) | South Korea operates Jang Bogo Station at Terra Nova Bay (2014), providing a permanent coastal research foothold on the Ross Sea. South Korea holds no territorial claim; its presence contributes to international science under the Antarctic Treaty framework and seasonal logistics support. |
Images and Descriptions
New Zealand
New Zealand administers the Ross Dependency, the territorial claim that includes the Ross Sea. It operates Scott Base on Ross Island (1957) alongside international stations. Under the Antarctic Treaty, New Zealand’s claim is maintained but new claims are frozen and activities governed by treaty rules.
United States
The United States maintains McMurdo Station on Ross Island (1956), giving it a major coastal research presence though the U.S. has not made a territorial claim. Activities there operate under the Antarctic Treaty system, which prioritizes peaceful research and freezes sovereignty disputes.
Italy
Italy runs Mario Zucchelli Station at Terra Nova Bay (1986), a year-round coastal research base on the western Ross Sea margin. Italy makes no Antarctic territorial claim; its operations are conducted under Antarctic Treaty rules emphasizing scientific collaboration and environmental protection.
South Korea
South Korea operates Jang Bogo Station at Terra Nova Bay (2014), providing a permanent coastal research foothold on the Ross Sea. South Korea holds no territorial claim; its presence contributes to international science under the Antarctic Treaty framework and seasonal logistics support.
