British Antarctic Territory, dependency of the United Kingdom, comprising the former dependencies of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) south of latitude 60° South and between longitude 20° West and longitude 80° West. The dependency was established in 1962, and consists of the South Shetland Islands, the South Orkney Islands, and a portion of the Antarctic mainland including the Antarctic Peninsula. Most of these areas are also claimed by Argentina and Chile. The area incorporates the coldest region on Earth and has a mean annual temperature of -5° C (23° F). The population is made up entirely of scientists and technicians who staff the British Antarctic Survey stations and other scientific bases throughout the region. Many of the islands were used as temporary bases for sealing and whaling expeditions until 1890. The first permanent bases were established for scientific purposes in 1943-1944. Area, about 1,554,000 sq km (about 600,000 sq mi).