Antarctica is the fifth largest continent situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, covered mostly with ice. It is surrounded by the Southern Ocean and contains both the geographic and magnetic South Poles. Antarctica, being the coldest continent with no inhabitants, is filled with some super fun facts that are bound to captivate you!
1. The word ‘Antarctica’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Antarkike’.
It means ‘opposite to the north’ or ‘opposite to the Arctic.’
2. The first person to discover Antarctica was the American explorer Charles Wilkes.
He led the United States Exploring Expedition all the way back in 1838.
3. Antarctica is an icy desert and the driest of the seven continents.
It receives very little rainfall throughout the year. It is also known to be the coldest continent, where the coldest air temperature measured in 1983 was -89.2°C/-128.6 °F at the Vostok Station.
4. The land area of Antarctica is approximately twice the size of Australia.
That’s fifty times the size of the UK!
5. The speed of the wind in Antarctica is bound to sweep you off your feet, both literally and figuratively.
In some areas it’s measured to be more than 218 miles per hour, or 350 kilometres per hour, which makes it the windiest place on the planet.
6. One-tenth of the earth is covered with ice.
90% of it is found in the Antarctica.
7. The continent’s largest lake is Lake Vostok, which is incidentally, found under the ice sheet.
It’s the largest of Antarctica’s 400 subglacial lakes, and has a water volume of 5,400 km3.
8. The highest peak in Antarctica is Vinson Massif.
It’s located near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula, which rises to a whopping height of 4,897 meters above the sea level.
9. Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
The Southern Ocean is a combination of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans and covers an area of 14 million square kilometres.
10. There are no permanent residents living in Antarctica.
Given the climatic conditions, thereby earning the title of being the least populated continent.
11. There is not much flora in Antarctica due to the extremely cold climate.
There are absolutely no trees or bushes in all of Antarctica.
12. The vegetation in Antarctica is limited to mostly mosses, algae and lichens.
It’s found in the northern parts and along the coastal areas.
13. There are over 5 million penguins in Antarctica.
Antarctica is home to the Emperor penguins, which are the tallest and heaviest of all penguin species. These penguins feed on krill, squid, and fish, and grow to over 120 cm/48 inches in height and weigh up to 45 kgs/100 lbs.
14. Other prolific hunters found in Antarctica include seals, whales, and bugs.
Antarctic midges, or Belgica antarctica, go into hibernation during the winter, standing perfectly still with only their blood preventing them from going completely frozen. They then thaw and spring into action during the summer months.
15. The Belgica Antarctica is the only insect native to the continent.
It is flightless and is around 2-6mm long.
16. The Antarctica is the only continent not inhabited by ants!
They are found almost everywhere else.
17. Antarctica is a continent managed according to the Antarctic Treaty signed in 1959.
According to this treaty, Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, and Norway put aside their territorial claims in the interest of mutual cooperation for scientific research.
18. Additionally, another protocol was approved to the treaty in 1994.
This banned mineral and oil exploration on Antarctica for 50 years.
19. Antarctica is divided into three main parts.
East Antarctica is the biggest part. A mountain range called the Transantarctic Mountains separates it from West Antarctica. The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part that projects from West Antarctica.
20. The population of Antarctica comprises mainly of scientists and researcher staff.
Population numbers vary according to the climate – summer has around 4000 people while winter has just 1000 people!
21. In summer, the sun doesn’t set for several months.
Summer starts in December and ends in February, while winter lasts from May to the end of August. In winter, the sun doesn’t rise for six whole months.
22. The largest research station in Antarctica is the McMurdo Station, where more than 1000 scientists work on various research projects during the summer.
Additionally, there are 18 countries who regularly send researchers and scientists to different stations on this continent. The biggest stations are held by the USA, Russia, Chile, Australia, and Argentina.
23. Mount Erebus and Deception Island are the two active volcanoes on Antarctica.
Both of them are active and have been erupting continuously for decades. Deception Island is responsible for the largest recorded eruption in Antarctica.
24. Mount Erebus measures 3,795 meters and features a 1700°F lava lake, a swirling pool of magma.
It contrasts the usual landscape that you’d expect to see in Antarctica.
25. The Lemaire Channel is the most popular tourist destination in Antarctica.
It is a narrow gap of water that runs for approximately 7 miles between the mainland’s Kiev Peninsula and Booth Island. It has earned the nickname of ‘Kodak Gap’ for its serene beauty and outstanding wildlife.
26. Aurora Australis are the Southern lights in the Antarctic winter between March and September.
It is one of the world’s greatest wonders. An aurora is a natural light display usually greenish colour but sometimes red or blue, in the Earth’s sky seen in the high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctica. The aurora appears often as curtains of folding light that constantly changes shape.
Antarctica FAQs
What is the Antarctica famous for?
The Antarctica is known to hold most of the world’s fresh water, and is locked under it’s huge ice sheet. The continent’s largest lake is Lake Vostok, and it’s the largest of Antarctica’s 400 subglacial lakes, with a water volume of 5,400 km3.
What flag does the Antarctica have?
The Antarctica does not have an official flag, as it has no government or native population that inhabit it permanently.
Does Antarctica have an airport?
Antarctica has 20 airports, belonging to different countries. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are used, and runways and landing pads have to be kept clear of ice and snow to ensure safe landing. None of these airports are public-access.
Is Antarctica land or ice?
The Antarctica is essentially a solid sheet of ice, lying upon a solid continent. It contains 90% of all the ice on Earth.
Why is it called Antarctica?
The word ‘Antarctica’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Antarkike’. It means ‘opposite to the north’ or ‘opposite to the Arctic.’