Antarctica is a continent located at the southernmost part of the Earth. It is the fifth-largest continent and is known for its extreme weather conditions and vast ice sheets. Antarctica is not inhabited by any permanent human settlements, but there are a number of research stations that are operated by different countries. In this response, we will discuss the 12 countries that have research stations in Antarctica.

- Argentina Argentina has a permanent research station in Antarctica called Esperanza Base, located on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. It was established in 1952 and is one of the oldest stations in Antarctica.
- Australia Australia has four permanent research stations in Antarctica, which are Mawson, Casey, Davis, and Macquarie Island. These stations are located in the Australian Antarctic Territory, which covers 42% of the continent.
- Belgium Belgium has one research station in Antarctica called Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, which is located in the Sør Rondane Mountains of Queen Maud Land. It was established in 2009 and is the first zero-emissions research station in Antarctica.
- Chile Chile has several research stations in Antarctica, including Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Station, located in the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula, and Arturo Prat Station, located in the southern part of the peninsula.
- China China has four research stations in Antarctica, which are the Great Wall Station, Zhongshan Station, Kunlun Station, and Taishan Station. The Great Wall Station is the oldest and largest of these stations and was established in 1985.
- France France has two research stations in Antarctica, which are Dumont d’Urville Station and Concordia Station. Dumont d’Urville Station is located on the coast of Adélie Land, while Concordia Station is located in the interior of Antarctica.
- Japan Japan has three research stations in Antarctica, which are the Showa Station, Dome Fuji Station, and Syowa Station. Showa Station is the oldest and largest of these stations and was established in 1957.
- New Zealand New Zealand has one research station in Antarctica called Scott Base, which is located near the Ross Ice Shelf. It was established in 1957 and is named after British explorer Robert Falcon Scott.
- Norway Norway has two research stations in Antarctica, which are the Troll Station and the Tor Station. The Troll Station is located in the eastern part of Queen Maud Land, while the Tor Station is located on the coast of Dronning Maud Land.
- Russia Russia has several research stations in Antarctica, including the Bellingshausen Station, the Vostok Station, and the Progress Station. The Vostok Station is one of the most isolated stations in Antarctica and is located near the center of the continent.
- South Africa South Africa has one research station in Antarctica called the SANAE IV Station, which is located on a rocky outcrop in Queen Maud Land. It was established in 1997 and is the fourth research station to bear the SANAE name.
- United Kingdom The United Kingdom has two research stations in Antarctica, which are the Rothera Research Station and the Halley Research Station. The Rothera Research Station is located on Adelaide Island, while the Halley Research Station is located on the Brunt Ice Shelf.
In conclusion, the 12 countries that have research stations in Antarctica are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, China, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. These countries conduct a wide range of research in areas such as climate change, oceanography, and geology, and their work is vital for understanding.