Antarctica is the only continent with no permanent human habitation. There are, however, permanent human settlements, where scientists and support staff live for part of the year on a rotating basis.
The area surrounding the actual South Pole (90° South) contains no life because of the extremely harsh conditions. Antarctica is the coldest and least accessible of all the Earth's continents. Antarctica is covered by an ice sheet that can be up to 3 km thick and surrounded by an annual ice pack.
Deep beneath Antarctica's ice shelves, researchers have discovered dozens of life-forms thriving on a tiny patch of the seafloor —— an unprecedented level of species diversity for an environment that has never seen sunlight.
Eleven babies have been born in Antarctica, and none of them died as infants. Antarctica therefore has the lowest infant mortality rate of any continent: 0%.
In the Antarctic and Arctic this must again rise probably to about 10%, higher in the field. With severe complications it could be up to 50% mortality. Risk: In a young woman the other risks of pregnancy include high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and haemorrhage.
Access to Antarctica is restricted by the Antarctic Treaty. If you want to organize your own trip or expedition there, you will have to request permission from the government of your own country.
Antarctica is hiding a huge amount of water beneath its surface. Researchers have long suspected that there might be groundwater buried beneath the ice, but until now there has been no conclusive evidence to confirm that suspicion.
The groundwater system, found in deep sediments in West Antarctica likely to be the consistency of a wet sponge, reveals an unexplored part of the region and may have implications for how the frozen continent reacts to the climate crisis, according to new research.
The most commonly spoken language of Antarctica is Russian, which happens to be the official language of Bellingsgauzenia, New Devon, and Ognia. English is also one of the most widespread languages spoken.
Antarctica is the Earth's only continent without a native human population, and no one country can claim to own it. Unique in the world, it is a land dedicated to science and all nations.
Typical flora found on tundra include lichens, mosses, and shrubs that grow close to the ground, and up to a few centimeters high. Yet in the Arctic, “trees” and even whole “forests” can be found - dwarf trees like the Arctic (rock) willow.
If all the ice covering Antarctica , Greenland, and in mountain glaciers around the world were to melt, sea level would rise about 70 meters (230 feet). The ocean would cover all the coastal cities. And land area would shrink significantly. But many cities, such as Denver, would survive.
Our experts share their inside knowledge and money-saving tips to help you answer the question “How much does it cost to go to Antarctica?” The average Antarctica cruise cost is about $8,000 per person. The least expensive expeditions start at under $5,000. Luxury voyages can exceed $15,000 per person.
The team discovered 77 species — including sabre-shaped bryozoans (moss animals) and serpulid worms — more than the total number previously known from all the frozen continent's ice shelves. The team concludes that there must be enough algae carried under the ice shelf from open water to fuel a strong food web.
Although Antarctica is a cold, dry, and desolate place, life always finds a way. Currently, there are only two known species of flowering plants found on the continent: Antarctic hair grass (Deschamsia antarctica) grows primarily in the Antarctic Peninsula in small, concentrated tufts throughout rocky areas.
The mystery of Antarctica continues deep below its surface, where no one has gone before. It is said that the Lost City of Atlantis is hidden beneath the kilometres of ice. The city would have thrived when Antarctica was a warm, tropical region, and would've been buried after the Ice Age froze the continent.
Massive aquifers may lie under all Antarctic ice streams. Beneath a fast-flowing ice stream in West Antarctica, scientists have discovered a vast aquifer brimming with seawater that's likely been locked down there for thousands of years.
Researchers have discovered a common martian mineral deep within an ice core from Antarctica. The find suggests the mineral—a brittle, yellow-brown substance known as jarosite—was forged the same way on both Earth and Mars: from dust trapped within ancient ice deposits.
Antarctica is a demilitarized zone. This means that no military activity can take place on the territory, including carrying out maneuvers and establishing military bases. In addition, no firearms (or explosive devices) are allowed without a special dispensation.
Unlike just about any where else in the world, it is not really possible to build easily in Antarctica using naturally found materials (igloos aside which aren't permanent structures). There are no trees at all for instance and so no wood.
There are no commercial flight routes over Antarctica due to the continent's lack of infrastructure and virtually non-existent population. Antarctica also has extreme weather that makes it difficult to fly and land on the continent.
