Discover fascinating fun facts about Antarctica, it's geography, animals and much more below...
​
​
Population: 0 permanent residents
​
No. Countries: 0
​
Highest Point: Mt Vinson 4892m
​
Largest Glacier: Lambert 400km long
​
Average ice thickness: 1.9km
​
Coldest Temperature: -89.2°C
THE COUNTRIES OF ANTARCTICA
DID YOU KNOW?
90% of the world's ice is found in Antarctica!
None - Antarctica is governed by 53 countries as part of the Antarctic Treaty System:
QUICK FACTS ABOUT ANTARCTICA
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Cuba
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Guatemala
Hungary
Iceland
India
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
North Korea
South Korea
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Malaysia
Monaco
Mongolia
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay
Venezuela
THE RESEARCH CONTINENT
The Antarctic Treaty was set up in 1959 after many countries disputed claims and ownership over the continent. The Treaty declared that there should be no permanent residents and the entire continent be handed over to scientific research.
38 countries now own or work at research facilities housing approx. 4000 people in the summer and 1000 people in the winter.
The world's most southern continent has no permanent inhabitants. It does however hold 70% of the world's fresh water due to 98% of it being covered in densely packed ice, averaging 1.9km thick!
​
Also due to the way that the World is tilted on an axis Antartica in the Winter is completely dark, sometimes the Sun never rises so it's night all the time. The same also happens in the Summer. Right at the height of the season the Sun never sets, meaning it's daylight 24 hours a day!
ACTIVITY
1. Pretend you are an explorer about to be the first person on Antarctica.
2. What would you take to wear, travel and eat on the freezing journey?
3. Write a diary entry of your first day on the continent. What is it like, is it a hard journey, what are have you seen?
CHRISTMAS IN ANTARCTICA
Despite no permanent human population, the 1000 or so Antarctic scientists that stay over Christmas still celebrate the festive season. Scientists at the American Amundsen-Scott research station have started their own unique tradition called 'The Race Around the World'.
​
Every year after gifts are exchanged and before Christmas dinner the scientists get together and race in a loop around the South Pole. The 2 mile route means they pass through every different timezone hence 'The Race Around the World'. Very cold but very cool!
Blue-eyed Shag
Type of animal - Marsupial
Maximum Wingspan - 1.1m
Region - Antarctica
Diet - Fish
Killer Whale (Orca)
Type of animal - Mammal
Maximum Length - 10m (including tail)
Region - Antarctica
Diet - Sea Mammals and Fish
Crabeater Seal
Type of animal - Mammal
Maximum Length - 2.5m
Region - Antarctica
Diet - Krill
Elephant Seal
Type of animal - Mammal
Maximum Length - 5m
Region - Antarctica
Diet - Fish
Emperor Penguin
Type of animal - Mammal
Maximum Height - 1.3m
Region - Antarctica
Diet - Fish and Krill
​
Krill
Type of animal -Crustacean
Maximum Length - 6cm
Region - Antarctica
Diet - Plankton and Plants
Antarctica is actually a desert due to its lack of rain and surprisingly snow.
The Ross Ice Shelf is so large that the country of France could neatly fit inside it.
Despite the masses of ice the continent is the driest place on earth. Along with the coldest and windiest!
It was the last continent to be discovered, remaining
un-explored until 1899! It was a British expedition led by Carsten Borchgrevink who spent the first winter on the great frozen continent!
Emperor Penguins flock to Antarctica's coasts in their 10s of thousands to mate and give birth each year due to its bountiful oceans!
The name Antarctica actually comes from a Greek word meaning 'the opposite to the North'. Perfect for a continent so far South!
ANTARCTICA ON FILM
-
Discover more about Antarctica and it's Treaty of 53 nations: https://ats.aq/index_e.htm
-
Learn about the Polar Bear and it's vulnerable status: www.wwf.org.uk/wildlife/polar-bears
-
Watch the BBC's Dynasties and see the Penguins great mating season: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06rj0yg
