Antarctica is a continent on the southern part of the earth. The continent is made up of a collection of territories claimed by different countries. The continent spans an area of 5,400,000 square miles with a population of approximately 1,106. The name Antarctica is Roman, and it means opposite to the North or opposite to the Arctic. Antarctica does not have a capital as it is not a country and does not have a government.
The continent does not have native inhabitants, people visit for different purposes and leave. The population visiting the continent varies with most people visiting and staying during summer. The permanent American research station, McMurdo station, situated in Ross Island is said to have the largest population. Maxwell Bay, located on King George Island has several bases and an airfield. There are a few animals and plants that can survive the harsh climate. The animals are mostly seals, whales, some species of birds, and penguins.
There are research stations maintained permanently in the continent. Camps are also set up during summer with some countries running projects during summer. Tourists visit to ski, hike and to visit the South Pole. There are several scenic islands to visit. Sites to see include Port Lockroy, Paradise Harbor, Lemaire Channel, Cuverville Island, Petermann Island, Half Moon Island, Mount Erebus, Pleneau Island, Goudier Island, Whaler’s Bay, Ross Ice Shelf, Paulet Island, Danco Island, Blood Falls, Brown Bluff, Gerlache Strait, Snow Hill Island, Antarctic Sound, Argentine Islands, McMurdo Sound, Lake Vostok. Other interesting places include Taylor Glacier, Don Juan Pond, Penguin Island, Mount Sidley, Detaille Island, Aitcho Islands, Hope Bay, Wilhelmina Bay, Chapel of the snows, Melchior Islands, Trinity Church, Mawson’s Huts, Barrientos island, Booth Island, Wiencke Island, Beardmore Glacier, Galindez Island, Bailey Head, Lake Vanda, Mount Terror, Union Glacier, Bay of Whales, Enterprise Island, Marguerite Bay, Seymour Island, Commonwealth Bay, Chair Peak, Canada Glacier.
Antarctica is mainly cold throughout the year, as it is a desert covered with ice. The continent experiences very little rain and temperatures get to as low as -112 °F and -128.6 °F during winter. The temperatures in the summer range from 41 °F to 59 °F. Summer season is experienced from November to March with June being the coldest month. The Eastern part of the continent is elevated than the West making it colder. During summer, people may get sunburn as most of the sun’s ultraviolet rays are reflected off the ice surface.
This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018
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