​A minister told that Turkey claims possession on the Antarctic due to Piri Reis’ world map

Minister of Science, Industry, and Technology Faruk Özlü said that Turkey claims possession on the Antarctic. He based his claim on Piri Reis’ map which includes the Americas and the Antarctic. Piri Reis was an Ottoman admiral, geographer, and cartographer. His world atlas was one of the oldest world maps showing the new world.

Stating that the Antarctic is seen completely on the map, “We are preparing a new map, and we want to display it in the museum where documents of the countries claiming possession on the Antarctic are displayed. We claim rights because Piri Reis was the first person to show the Antarctic on the map," Özlü said.

"WE WILL SET UP A SCIENCE BASE"

"We have completed a pre-study. According to this pre-study, the season in the Antarctic is the exact opposite of Turkey. We will send a committee when it will be summer there. We will send scholars from Istanbul Technical University and other universities. Turkey will have a science base in the Antarctic," Özlü added.