Why do you have to block out windows in the South Pole?

To minimize light pollution at the South Pole, window coverings are installed over every station window. Over the years, winter-overs have taken the time to decorate them.

Why can't we go to the South Pole?

Well, that is because visiting Antarctica is a privilege and a responsibility at the same time. The Antarctic Treaty includes a protocol on environmental protection, which designates the continent as a natural reserve. There is a set of rules any visitor has to follow.

Is it dark for 6 months in Antarctica?

Antarctica has just two seasons: summer and winter. Antarctica has six months of daylight in its summer and six months of darkness in its winter. The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis in relation to the sun.

Why does the sun set for 6 months in the South Pole?

At this time the North Pole of the Earth is on the Sun's horizon, when the Earth rotates due to its axis, only the North Pole would receive the Sun's light. At this time, the South Pole is opposite to the Sun, so the sunlight cannot reach here.

What is the only direction you can travel from the South Pole?

Every direction along the ground is north, so there is no east. But if you take one step away from the Pole, you can travel east by turning right and walking around the Pole clockwise. 180 degrees removed from west, as always. East at the South Pole is any direction you want it to be.

How Living at the South Pole Works

Which is colder north or South Pole?

Even though the North Pole and South Pole are “polar opposites,” they both get the same amount of sunlight. But the South Pole is a lot colder than the North Pole.

Who owns South Pole?

There is no single country that owns Antarctica. Instead, Antarctica is governed by a group of nations in a unique international partnership. The Antarctic Treaty, first signed on December 1, 1959, designates Antarctica as a continent devoted to peace and science.

How long is a day in Antarctica?

At the poles themselves, the seasonal changes are even more pronounced. 24-hour daylight occurs for several months over summer, while in winter there is complete darkness for several months.

Can you live in Antarctica?

No-one lives in Antarctica indefinitely in the way that they do in the rest of the world. It has no commercial industries, no towns or cities, no permanent residents. The only "settlements" with longer term residents (who stay for some months or a year, maybe two) are scientific bases.

Does it rain in Antarctica?

It does not rain or snow a lot there. When it snows, the snow does not melt and builds up over many years to make large, thick sheets of ice, called ice sheets. Antarctica is made up of lots of ice in the form of glaciers, ice shelves and icebergs. Antarctica has no trees or bushes.

Can you see the moon in Antarctica?

You can see the moon only during half the month, and it is the half when the moon is a crescent. The closer to a quarter moon it is, the closer to the horizon it is. During a full moon, the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, and now the south pole is tilted towards the Sun and away from the Moon.

Can you fly across Antarctica?

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.

Why do planes not fly over Antarctica?

No, planes don't fly over Antarctica because it is too remote and ETOPS regulation requires that aircraft are within a certain distance of a diversion airport at all times in case there are engine problems. As there are no diversion airports in Antarctica, routes must stay closer to other continents.

What is forbidden in Antarctica?

However, in Antarctica, taking anything is banned. This includes rocks, feathers, bones, eggs and any kind of biological material including traces of soil. Taking anything man-made is also completely banned, as some might actually be research equipment.

Are there laws in Antarctica?

While there are no "laws" as we traditionally know them, there is a treaty and many international agreements in place between the cooperating nations of Antarctica. In reality, the international scientific community governs Antarctica because those are the people who work and operate on the continent.

Is there sun in Antarctica?

During summer at Antarctica, the sky is never dark. Around the summer solstice, weather conditions permitting, the sun is visible 24 hours a day. In the winter months, the opposite occurs.

What was the hottest temperature in Antarctica?

The recent extraordinary heatwave in Antarctica appears to have set a new World Record for the largest temperature excess above normal (+38.5 °C / +69.3 °F) ever measured at an established weather station. It “appears to have set a new World Record for the largest temperature excess above normal …

What is the human population in Antarctica?

The summertime population of Antarctica is around 5000 people (not including those on ships), but this drops to just 1000 people continent-wide during the long, dark, cold winter.

What is the hottest temperature humans can survive in?

It is commonly held that the maximum temperature at which humans can survive is 108.14-degree Fahrenheit or 42.3-degree Celsius. A higher temperature may denature proteins and cause irreparable damage to brain.

Why does it not rain in Antarctica?

Antarctica is technically a desert, and a particularly dry one at that. This is because the cold air simply can't hold much water. There's no precipitation without humidity, and there's no humidity without heat.

What happens if Antarctica melts?

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.

Can you go to Antarctica without permission?

Antarctica is not owned by anyone and does not have its own government so you do not need a visa to visit (although you may need a passport to re-enter your own country afterward). If you are a citizen of one of the countries that have signed the Antarctic Treaty, you will need permission to visit Antarctica.

Can I claim land in Antarctica?

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.

Is Antarctica rich in gold?

Nearly all of the people to set foot on Antarctica have been explorers and researchers. However, it is also a continent that has a variety minerals including gold. And it is even quite possible that there are areas that have very rich and completely undiscovered deposits of gold and other precious metals.