Facts from the 'frozen world'

Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent. It contains the geographic South Pole and is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle. At 5.5 million sqft, it is the fifth-largest continent. The continent is separated into two regions by the Transantarctic Mountains: East Antarctica and West Antarctica.

Is antarctica a desert?

A desert is defined by the amount of precipitation (rain, snow, mist and fog) in an area. A region that receives very little precipitation (the exact amount depends on who you ask) is classified as a desert. There are many types of deserts, including subtropical, coastal and polar deserts. What they all have in common is a barren, windswept landscape, which makes it difficult for plants and animals alike to gain a foothold on land. This all certainly applies to Antarctica. It might be surprising to hear that this continent is considered a desert, which means it’s a place that gets very little moisture. But there are no sand dunes, cacti or rattlesnakes. Mainly it is flat ice and glaciers, with only moss and algae that grows there. It also has two active volcanoes. It is so cold in Antarctica that nobody actually lives there, although there are visiting scientists from all over the world at any given time of the year. If you do travel to Antarctica, be sure to pack extra warm clothes. The temperature can drop to -128°F, depending on what time of year you visit.

Wildlife

There are no land mammals in Antarctica, but that doesn’t mean there is no wildlife. On the contrary: one animal you might see there that you would recognise is the emperor penguin.

You might know them as the penguins from the movie Happy Feet. There are also lots of different types of seals. You might see Weddell seals or leopard seals (because they are spotted like a leopard) lounging on the ice or in the water. If you’re interested in whales then you’re in luck, because Antarctica is home to killer whales, blue whales, and humpback whales.

Let’s see how well you know your continent

1.   The world’s longest glacier is found on Antarctica. What is it called?

A. Amundsen 

B. Lambert

C. Beardmore

D. Scott

2. Which research base is located at the South Pole?

A. Casey Research Base

B. Vostok Research Base

C. Amundsen-Scott Research Base

D. Molodezhnaya Research Base

3. Who was the first human being to reach the South Pole?

A. Anja Blacha   B. Matthieu Tordeur

C. Roald Amundsen                   D. Frederick Cook

4.When was The Antarctic Treaty signed?

A. June 23, 1961                B. August 26, 1948

C. July 1, 1957                               D. Dec 1, 1959

5. Which of the following is the most abundant land animal on Antarctica?

A. Nematode worm                        B. Penguin

C. Whale                                              D. Albatross

6.What is the name of New Zealand’s territorial claim on Antarctica?

A. Ross Sea                                 B. Roosevelt Island

C. Victoria Land                         D. Ross Dependency

7. What is the name of the music festival held on the continent?

A. Mawazine      B. Coachella

C. Sziget