Belief in Antarctica’s existence goes back to the 1st century AD. We’ve mentioned before how ice melts and freezes in a cycle during Antarctic summers and winters. 5. Despite all that, life still found a way to survive in such a hard land. 10 fun facts about Antarctica 1. The glare of reflected sunlight makes it even harder to notice these dangers until you’re on top of them – and by then, it’s already too late. East and West Antarctica are separated by the approximately 2,100-mile- (about 3,400-km-) long Transantarctic Mountains. Antarctica is about 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km) in size, and thick ice covers about 98 percent of the land. As CFCs in the atmosphere dropped, the hole in the ozone layer began to heal. However, he was the only doctor in the station. Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the geographic south pole on December 14, 1911. Research data and other official communications are priorities for the network. As of 2019, scientists say the hole is at its smallest since 1982. Here’s a particularly cool example of Antarctica facts: It even earned Metallica a world record as the only band to play in all 7 continents. The Gamburtsev Mountains run for about 1,200 km across the continent in East Antarctica. Its landmass is almost wholly covered by a vast ice sheet. Antarctica’s reputation as a frozen land at the bottom of the world might make it seem an uninteresting place, but nothing can be further from the truth. You just have to know where to look, just like these Antarctica facts. The Antarctica Marathon is held every year in February or March. Despite this, there’s been no development at all of the Antarctic lands, as per international treaty forbidding such development. History. Here, water from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans merge into one, surrounding the Antarctic continent. Your email address will not be published. Other animal life on Antarctica includes several species of seals, birds, and of course fish and shellfish. The air surrounding Antarctica’s Dry Valleys is so low in humidity that even with the extreme cold, snow doesn’t fall. 15 Interesting facts about Antarctica 1. On other continents, warm and moist conditions easily weather landing meteorites. Animals with glycoproteins include the Antarctic eelpout, inland bacteria, and lichens. Instead, a change in the automated flight path and a failure to inform the flight crew caused the plane to fly into Mount Erebus. Until the 1970s, scientists relied on ground-based geophysical techniques such as seismic surveys of the Antarctic ice sheets to reveal hidden mountain ranges and peaks. This hypothesis draws from the way inland ice sheets stay unaffected by global warming so far. In addition, many tourists have visited Antarctica, which has underscored the value of scenic resources in the continentâs economic development. The continent is divided into East Antarctica (which is largely composed of a high ice-covered plateau) and West Antarctica (which is largely an ice sheet covering an archipelago of mountainous islands). It was also not evident that such a continent existed until it was seen by humans in the 19 th century. Ice shelves, or ice sheets floating on the sea, cover many parts of the Ross and Weddell seas. However, it poses a threat to research stations. Despite all that, life still found a way to survive in such a hard land. Average wind speeds reach up to 320 km/h. These deep embayments of the southernmost Pacific and Atlantic oceans make the continent somewhat pear-shaped, dividing it into two unequal-sized parts. There are 70 research stations in Antarctica. There’s one for ironic Antarctica facts. The ice fish compensates with a slow metabolism and the fact that oxygen is more soluble in cold than warm water. These lights are caused by high-energy particles from the Sun slipping through the Earth’s magnetic field and hitting the atmosphere. The reactor also provided heat to melt ice for water, and to purify wastewater for reuse. Photo: Audun Dahl. The largest of these fragments was Iceberg B-15A, with an area of 6,400 km². The average thickness of ice in Antarctica is about 1 mile (1.6 km). Satellites and other remote-sensing technologies have become key tools in providing mapping data. It starts and finishes at Bellingshausen Station, and runs past Artigas, Frei, and Great Wall Bases. For legal purposes of the Antarctic Treaty, the arbitrary boundary of latitude 60° S is used, south of which lies the Antarctic Treaty Area. Definitely one of the more alarming Antarctica facts. It’s also the name of a Russian research station in East Antarctica, which stands on the ice above Lake Vostok. The only insect in Antarctica is called the Belgica Antarctica, or the Antarctic Midge. 90 percent of the world’s freshwater lies in Antarctica and 89 percent is in the form of ice and only 1 percent is flowing water. Antarctica’s undeveloped state means the skies above the continent are the clearest in the world. Iceberg B-15 broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf in March 2000 and drifted north into the Atlantic Ocean. 10. there are more than 300 lakes beneath the antarctic ice sheet; 11. mount erebus, the southernmost active volcano on earth is in antarctica; 12. in 1977, argentina sent a pregnant mother to antarctica in an effort to claim a portion of the continent; 13. antarctica does not have a time zone; 14. there are no countries in antarctica It’s not a volcanic peak, but a mountain formed by deformation of the continental landmass from geological processes. Does it have mountains? They did this in hopes of claiming Antarctic soil as their territory. Should the ice on this part of the continent melt, sea levels will rise by at least 3.3. meters. The term Antarctic region refers to all areaâoceanic, island, and continentalâlying in the cold Antarctic climatic zone south of the Antarctic Convergence, an important boundary around 55° S, with little seasonal variability, where warm subtropical waters meet and mix with cold polar waters (see also polar ecosystem). They also say they expect the hole to close in full by 2070. Antarctica holds most of the world’s fresh water An incredible 60-90% of the world’s fresh water is locked in Antarctica’s vast ice sheet. The ice on Antarctica isn’t smooth and uniform no matter what your eyes tell you. The first confirmed sighting of the continent was in 1820. The lake itself has an area of 12,500 km², and a volume of 12,500 km³. There is little or no running water. Also, it is considered that once Antarctica is as warm as modern California. Now there’s a fun example of Antarctica facts. However, safety concerns led the USA to decommission the reactor in 1972. Despite efforts to help her by other scientists, the seal mauled Brown to death. Its average thickness is about 5,900 feet (1,800 metres). The reasons are the same as ants. The history of Antarctica emerges from early Western theories of a vast continent, known as Terra Australis, believed to exist in the far south of the globe. Wilkins Ice Shelf’s collapse from 2008 to 2009 followed the said trend. While being good coolants, they had a dangerous side-effect in the atmosphere. It’s a small and flightless insect, measuring between 2 to 6 mm long. The exploitation of these resources is not allowed under the Antarctic Treaty, but it is set to expire in 2048. Because of this, scientists maximize their access to the satellite network. Study shows the thickness of the ice is about 4 km to the lake’s surface. Doctor Rogozov not only managed to remove his appendix but recovered fully. The eruption was a gentle one, lava pooling in the volcano’s crater and flowing down its slopes many times over the years. Antarctica is the windiest place on the earth where windspeed of more than 350 kilometres per hour/218 miles per hour have been measured. When there’s not enough water for them to live, the nematodes freeze themselves. Ernest Shackleton’s 1907 expedition to Antarctica reached the magnetic south pole for the first time. Read also: Best 20 Facts about Asia History Landscape Cities More. One internet user has compiled a list of the most interesting Antarctica facts. Polar bears are exclusive to the Arctic. Study also shows that while the glacier has existed for around 400,000 years, the lake is older. It is also the worldâs highest, driest, windiest, coldest, and iciest continent. They can’t raise livestock, but scientists in Antarctica have indoor gardens and greenhouses to grow fresh fruits and vegetables in. The rest of the continent make up East Antarctica. There are plenty of interesting facts about the southernmost continent. Compared this to the Grand Canyon, which is only about 446 km long, and 6 to 29 km wide, the West Antarctic Rift is much bigger. Antarctica’s frozen landscape preserves meteorites that pass through the atmosphere very well. The bar retains the old name of Faraday Bar, even after the rest of the station switched to a Ukrainian name. They’re usually seen in high northern or low southern latitudes, but even so, they’re a rare sight in Antarctica. It means southern land in Latin. No, it’s not the one that sank the Titanic. It’s not enough to make them self-sufficient, but it’s enough to keep them from being completely-dependent on supply shipments. Antarctica is the place where all the longitude lines meet, and hence, the South Pole has no specific time zone of its own. The History of Antarctica starts off with the European discoverers. Antarctica is noted as the last region on Earth in recorded history to be discovered, unseen until 1820 when the Russian expedition of Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev on Vostok and Mirny sighted the Fimbul ice shelf. It is the fifth-largest continent at 14,200,000 square kilometers (5,500,000 square miles). The new millennium saw tourism and (to a lesser extent) biological prospecting (the search for useful chemical compounds and genes in local species) become established sectors of the Antarctic economic landscape. The Argentinian government sent Emilio’s mother when she was 7 months pregnant to complete her pregnancy in Antarctica. Home to the largest desert in the world; Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, highest and driest continent on Earth; The coldest temperature measured was -93.2°C (-133°F) Often described as a continent of superlatives, Antarctica is the worldâs southernmost continent. Melting of ice sheets don’t add to ocean levels, as they’re already part of the global balance. Surprisingly, there’s an international dialling code for Antarctica, which is +672. Anywhere else on the planet, wind speeds only reach this high during storms and similar weather phenomena. This success made him a celebrity in the Soviet Union, and earned him the Order of the Red Banner for Labor. Map of Antarctica highlighting the major geographic regions, ice sheets, and sites of several research stations. In addition, krill harvesting and other types of commercial fishing in the Southern Ocean expanded from the 1960s onwards. If the dentist declares there’s a risk of major teeth issues in the time they’re planned to stay in Antarctica, then it must get resolved before departure. Antarctica history is relatively short, at least in terms of human activity. Both have a permanent population of less than a hundred people. Our editors will review what youâve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This limits how cold it can get, as the water beneath will always be warmer than land in the same situation, like in Antarctica. In the winter of 1821, for the first time ever a party of men spent a winter in Antarctica. Due to wind direction, most of the CFCs ended up over Antarctica, where the hole opened up. Maritime Antarcticaâthe islands and coastsâsupports more life than inland Antarctica, and the surrounding ocean is as rich in life as the land is barren. Knowledge about Antarctica has increased greatly since the IGY. Everything to the west of the Weddell Sea but east of the Ross Sea is West Antarctica. 80% of the Earth’s freshwater is in Antarctica’s ice. For comparison, Antarctica is roughly the size of the United States and Mexico combined or about 1.3 times as large as Europe. In 1599, Dutchman Dirck Gerritsz described land in the vicinity of the South Shetland Islands, and through the 1600s Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English and French navigators penetrated south of Cape Horn. However, since 1994, dogs haven’t been allowed any longer in Antarctica. The “Antarctic Treaty” signed in 1961 stipulates that no country may exploit Antarctica economically or use it militarily. Decades of use of CFCs broke down enough ozone to open a hole in the ozone layer. She gave birth on January 7, 1978, to a healthy boy named Emilio Palma. Even with how cold Antarctica is, the dryness of the air makes it easy for a fire to start and spread, and hard to extinguish. Scientists estimate Mount Erebus has erupted many times over the last 1 million years. 19. The ice-choked and stormy seas around Antarctica long hindered exploration by wooden-hulled ships. Yes, Antarctica is a continent. This includes the shores of the sea, or on the slopes and vents of Antarctica’s volcanoes. Antarctica only became covered in ice starting around 15 million years ago, as it drifted towards the Earth’s south pole. Between the continent’s position and the satellite’s orbits, and there’s a daily limit to how long they can use the satellites. CFCs strongly-react with ozone, a special molecule of oxygen that prevents ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the surface. East Antarctica lies mostly in the east longitudes and is larger than West Antarctica, which lies wholly in the west longitudes. Temperatures reached a peak of 18.3°C, beating the 2015 record of 17.5°C. In 2003, marine biologist Kirsty Brown died after getting attacked by a Leopard Seal in Antarctica. The History of Antarctica. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The Transantarctic Mountains, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. According to studies, ships captained by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, Edward Bransfield, and Nathaniel Palmer sighted the ice shelves of Antarctica in 1820. Seals and penguins are bigger, but they spend much of their time in the water. Running across West Antarctica, this rift isn’t very noticeable thanks to all the ice burying it. Scientists now know that the rift runs for over 3000 km, and spans around 700 km wide. In contrast, the coastal ice sheets and ice shelves melt more every year. As of 2018, four small icebergs remain of Iceberg B-15 in the South Atlantic. Fishing, is only allowed offshore, and fish farms are not allowed on Antarctica itself. Apparently, Antarctic squid are. There’s no need for Antarctica to establish an official timezone, as the continent has no government nor citizens of its own. From historical research, it was discovered that Antarctica emerges from early Western theories of a vast continent, known as Terra Australis, believed to exist in the far south of the globe. 1821 February the 7th. There is little or no running water. The continent was ice-free during most of its lengthy geologic history, and there is no reason to believe it will not become so again. Over 30,000 people tourists visit the continent every year. Even in summer, the temperature never rises above zero, while in winter the sun never rises. There are 3 reasons for this: First is that the Arctic is only ice floating on water. If Antarctica’s ice sheet melted, the world’s oceans would rise by 60 to 65 meters. Photo: Audun Dahl. All life in Antarctica depends on the ice around the continent. (1, 2) 2. Bet you didn’t expect that from Antarctica facts? The name entered formal use in the 1890s, through the Scottish mapmaker John Bartholomew. There’s a misconception that everyone who goes to Antarctica needs to have their appendix and wisdom teeth removed first. It was the ancient Greeks who first came up with the idea of Antarctica. With limited resources on the continent and the long trip to the nearest hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, it’s thought best to avoid the problem. The other is Villa Las Estrellas on King George Island, founded by Chile. Chile has a civilian city in continent, hence with a school, hospital, hostel, post office, Internet , TV and mobile phone coverage. Antarctica Ecology Facts Antarctica is the highest, driest, coldest, windiest and brightest of the seven continents. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Antarctica has a surface area of over 14 million km². Early penetration of this Southern (or Antarctic) Ocean in the search for fur seals led in 1820 to the discovery of the continent. How’s that for weird Antarctica facts? Geographers mark the 60th Parallel as the Southern Ocean’s northern boundary, with its opposite being the Antarctic coast. It might come as a disappointment, but that’s a definite example of Antarctica facts. Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the geographic south pole on December 14, 1911. Hence, Antarctica is named as the “land without bears.” Interestingly, even the great Polar Bears don’t exist in Antarctica! The term Antarctic, referring to the opposite of the Arctic Circle, was coined by Marinus of Tyre in the 2nd century AD.. These are fishing and tourism, and both are heavily regulated. As it drifted north, Iceberg B-15 began breaking apart into smaller icebergs. Here are 15 facts about Antarctica and its wildlife that will leave you speechless: 1. Lying almost concentrically around the South Pole, Antarcticaâs name means âopposite to the Arctic.â It would be essentially circular except for the outflaring Antarctic Peninsula, which reaches toward the southern tip of South America (some 600 miles [970 km] away), and for two principal embayments, the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea. Ice cores are much like them. The Dry Valleys in Antarctica are the driest places on earth. Between 1912 and 1913, scientists recorded the wind speed at Cape Denison station - the fastest recorded speed that year was 95mph (153km/h). All sightings are of the Antarctic Peninsula, the most northerly region of Antarctica. How’s that for Chilling Antarctica facts? Read also: 16 Africa Facts Culture Tribes History More. Even doctors do research in Antarctica, such as how viruses work and how the human body adapts to such a harsh environment. During winter, the Earth is always at its furthest from the Sun, while in summer, it is at its closest. Now that’s one for cool Antarctica facts. Terra Australis instead gave Australia’s name, while Antarctica became the expected but undiscovered continent’s name. Here are facts about Antarctica for you: Facts about Antarctica 1: the size of Antarctica Science then replaced whaling and sealing as the primary year-round human activity in Antarctica. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Governments mandated many early expeditionsâwhether ostensibly economic, scientific, or exploratory in characterâto make territorial claims. Instead, their blood plasma dissolves oxygen and carries it around in their bodies. This makes Antarctic winters and summers colder and warmer than their Arctic counterparts. Antarctica is the southernmost continent on the planet. Drill samples point to the lake existing as far back as 25 million years ago. As it leaves the overlying glacier, the iron oxidizes with oxygen in the air, giving the water a blood-like color. The warming in West Antarctica was especially-severe, with temperatures rising over 0.1 degrees Celsius per decade. People usually picture penguins when they think about the animals in Antarctica. Definitely one of the more tragic Antarctica. 15 Interesting Facts About Antarctica On the southernmost tip of the planet sits one of the world's most massive and mysterious landmasses: the frozen realm of Antarctica. The flat and unbroken central region of the continent allows winds to reach high speeds over vast distances. 3. Well, they didn’t get that name for no reason. Those plates float on a thin layer of lava between the crust and the rest of the mantle. Mount Erebus stands on Antarctica’s Ross Island at 3.8 km high. Point your mental compass due South and test the extremes of your knowledge of Antarctica in this quiz. Since then, diesel-fueled generators have powered McMurdo Station. Antarctica is an icy desert with very little rainfall throughout the year. Ever heard of tree rings? At their heaviest, Giant Squid only weighs at most 275 kg. However, Antarctica is cold and dry, with little to no liquid water and life present. Definitely one of the Antarctica facts you have to see for yourself. No military, mining, or economic activity can take place on Antarctica by international law. Definitely one of the more mind-boggling Antarctica facts. Scientists and staff who stay in the winter often experience cabin fever, having to get creative to deal with the isolation. There are no indigenous people in Antarctica. The Vernadsky Research Station also houses the southernmost bar on Earth. The southernmost parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans converge into a cold oceanic water mass with unique biological and physical characteristics. Aristotle wrote in his book Meteorology about Antarctic region already in c. 350 B.C. That increase is enough to cause the permanent flooding of low-lying places such as New Orleans and the surrounding Mississippi River Delta. Air New Zealand Flight 901 was an aerial tour of Antarctica from Auckland. The seal measured 4 meters long and weighed 449 kg. However, the coloring comes from an inland brine lake buried under ice. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In fact, Antarctica’s landscape is what’s called a polar desert. Even in summer, the temperature never rises above zero, while in winter the sun never rises. Lake Vostok isn’t an underground lake, but a subglacial one. Omissions? Geologists, geophysicists, glaciologists, biologists, and other scientists have mapped and visited all of the continentâs mountain regions. From the late 18th to the mid-20th century, whalers and sealers plied the rich seas that surround the continent. Antarctica is one of the harshest places on Earth. If going in the opposite direction though, the current slows ships down. It’s still too cold for anything to grow, after all, and even if it wasn’t, nothing can grow without water particles in the air. Antarctica History. In fact, the waters of the Antarctic continent teem with life. They, too, are found only in the Arctic region! Antarctica’s distance from the rest of the world also means fewer contaminants to clog the sky. As a result, Montreal Protocol banned the use of CFCs in 1987. These shelvesâthe Ross Ice Shelf and the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelfâtogether with other shelves around the continental margins, fringe about 45 percent of Antarctica. Wisdom teeth removal depends on whether or not the dentist prescribes it. History. This treaty, which was an unprecedented landmark in diplomacy, preserves the continent for nonmilitary scientific pursuits and placed Antarctica under an international regime that, for the treatyâs duration, holds all territorial claims in place. Satellites are the only reliable way to communicate to and from Antarctica. It sits on the very bottom of the globe, as far south as anyone can go. Biologists study Antarctica’s unique biosphere with little to no signs of human interference. 1. Scientists feared dogs might spread diseases to native animals or treat them as prey, so they prohibited dogs to protect the continent’s biodiversity. That is warm water rises and cold water sinks, bringing nutrients with it across the levels of the water. 40 research stations operate all year round. Just like tree rings, they tell how old a layer of ice is, and what happened in that time. Pam Young, Jean Pearson, Lois Jones, Eileen McSaveney, Kay Lindsay and Terry Tickhill became the first women to reach the south pole in 1969. Reptiles can’t regulate their own temperature, and being in the Antarctic would only freeze their already cold blood. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, Technological advancements in exploration, https://www.britannica.com/place/Antarctica, Official Site of Ulsan Metropolitan City, South Korea, Official Site of the Office of the United Nations High Commisioner For Refugees, Official Site of St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Antarctica, British Antarctic Survey - Discovering Antarctica, Antarctica - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Antarctica - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 10 Fun Facts About Antarctica November 26, 2012. They were only supposed to fly over Antarctica for a few hours before returning to Auckland. 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