Antarctica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the continent. For other uses, see Antarctica (disambiguation).
Antarctica
Area 14,, km
!
(",4, s# mi)
$1%
Population
permanent residents (!14)
$!%
& ", temporary residents
Demonym Antarctican, Antarctic
Internet TLD .a#
Antarctica (
i
'( n t k tk ) ' or '( n t k tk ) ')
$*ote 1%
is +arth,s southernmost continent, containing
the geographic -outh .ole. /t is situated in the Antarctic region of the -outhern 0emisphere,
almost entirely south of the Antarctic 1ircle, and is surrounded by the -outhern 2cean. At 14.
million km
!
(".4 million s# mi), it is the fifth3largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, *orth
America, and -outh America. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly t4ice the si5e of Australia.
About 678 of Antarctica is co9ered by ice that a9erages at least 1.6 kilometres (1.! mi) in
thickness,
$"%
4hich e:tends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic .eninsula.
Antarctica, on a9erage, is the coldest, driest, and 4indiest continent, and has the highest a9erage
ele9ation of all the continents.
$;%
Antarctica is considered a desert, 4ith annual precipitation of
only ! mm (7 inches) along the coast and far less inland.
$<%
The temperature in Antarctica has
reached =76 >1 (=1!6 >F). There are no permanent human residents, but any4here from 1, to
", people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent.
2nly cold3adapted organisms sur9i9e, including many types of algae, bacteria, fungi, plants,
protista, and certain animals, such as mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades.
?egetation 4here it occurs is tundra.
Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis (@-outhern Aand@) date back to
anti#uity, the Bussian e:pedition of Fabian Cottlieb 9on Dellingshausen and Eikhail Aa5are9 on
Vostok and Mirny first sighted a continental ice shelf in 17!. The continent, ho4e9er, remained
largely neglected for the rest of the 16th century because of its hostile en9ironment, lack of
resources, and isolation.
The Antarctic Treaty 4as signed in 16"6 by 1! countriesF to date, 46 countries ha9e signed the
treaty. The treaty prohibits military acti9ities and mineral mining, prohibits nuclear e:plosions
and nuclear 4aste disposal, supports scientific research, and protects the continent,s eco5one.
2ngoing e:periments are conducted by more than 4, scientists from many nations.
Contents