Antarctica

Antarctica is earths southernmost continent, containing the geographic South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic circle, and is surrounded by the southern ocean. It is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America and South America. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages at least 1.9 kilometers in thickness, which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic peninsula.

Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm along the coast and far less inland. The temperature in Antarctica has reached −89 °C. There are no permanent human residents, but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Only cold-adapted organisms survive, including many types of algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, protista, and certain animals, such as mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and trardigrades.

The Antarctic treaty was signed in 1959 by 12 countries; to date, 49 countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining, prohibits nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal, supports scientific research, and protects the continent’s ecozone. Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists from many nations.

Thats a few facts of this huge and cold continent to the south. Antarctica has always fascinated me because of the remoteness it has and knowing Roald Amundsen had the worlds first expedition there in 1911.

I will come back with information on this dream of mine later.