ABOUT ANTARCTICA
LOCATION AND LANDFORMS
Antarctica is the southernmost continent which is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. It covers more than 14,000,000 km2, making it the fifth-largest continent, nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet. The continent has about 90% of the world's ice, and about 70% of the world's fresh water. Antarctica has many landforms other than ice sheet, it includes glacier, desert, mountain, plain, plateau and valley. of For
Bottom of Form
CLIMATE
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent in the world. The average summer temperature is -27.5c and winter temperature is -60c. The average wind speed is 37kmh. p of Form
Bottom of Form POPULATION
There is no native population in Antarctica and no permanent residents. There are about 4,000 people working in the research stations in summer and 1,000 total in winter. During summer, there are about 30,000 tourists travel to Antarctica.Top of Form
Bottom of Form HISTORY
In 1773, James Cook and his crew crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time but they did not see Antarctica. The first landing was in 1821 when American Captain John Davis, a sealer, set foot on the ice. Many explorers attempted to reach the South Pole in the early 20th century, during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Top of Form
Bottom of Form WILDLIFE
The cold and dry weather conditions in Antarctica makes it hard for wildlife to survive. The commonly known mammals are seals and whales. Birds of Antarctica includes penguins, gulls, albatrosses and more. There are few plants grow in Antarctica because of the dry weather, lack of sunlight and good soil. Plant life includes algae, lichen, fungi and bacteria. Top of Form
Bottom of Form WHO OWNS ANTARCTICA
There is no government in Antarctica. Some countries have claimed different regions in Antarctica, but the claims are not recognised by other countries. The Antarctic Treaty was signed by twelve countries including Australia in 1959. The Treaty promotes scientific research and environmental protection in Antarctica. It also bans military activities in the Antarctica.
Antarctica is the southernmost continent which is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. It covers more than 14,000,000 km2, making it the fifth-largest continent, nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet. The continent has about 90% of the world's ice, and about 70% of the world's fresh water. Antarctica has many landforms other than ice sheet, it includes glacier, desert, mountain, plain, plateau and valley. of For
Bottom of Form
CLIMATE
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent in the world. The average summer temperature is -27.5c and winter temperature is -60c. The average wind speed is 37kmh. p of Form
Bottom of Form POPULATION
There is no native population in Antarctica and no permanent residents. There are about 4,000 people working in the research stations in summer and 1,000 total in winter. During summer, there are about 30,000 tourists travel to Antarctica.Top of Form
Bottom of Form HISTORY
In 1773, James Cook and his crew crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time but they did not see Antarctica. The first landing was in 1821 when American Captain John Davis, a sealer, set foot on the ice. Many explorers attempted to reach the South Pole in the early 20th century, during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Top of Form
Bottom of Form WILDLIFE
The cold and dry weather conditions in Antarctica makes it hard for wildlife to survive. The commonly known mammals are seals and whales. Birds of Antarctica includes penguins, gulls, albatrosses and more. There are few plants grow in Antarctica because of the dry weather, lack of sunlight and good soil. Plant life includes algae, lichen, fungi and bacteria. Top of Form
Bottom of Form WHO OWNS ANTARCTICA
There is no government in Antarctica. Some countries have claimed different regions in Antarctica, but the claims are not recognised by other countries. The Antarctic Treaty was signed by twelve countries including Australia in 1959. The Treaty promotes scientific research and environmental protection in Antarctica. It also bans military activities in the Antarctica.