antarctica has no permanent residents, and contains research stations and field camps that are staffed seasonally or year-round, and former whaling settlements. the largest station, mcmurdo station, has a summer population of about 1,000 people and a winter population of about 200. approximately 29 nations, all signatory to the antarctic treaty, send personnel to perform seasonal (summer) or year-round research on the continent and in its surrounding oceans.