Embedded Files
A frozen continent of extremes — shaped by ice, wind, and science
What Makes Antarctica Unique?
What Makes Antarctica Unique?
Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth, surrounding the South Pole.
It is the coldest, driest, and windiest place on the planet, and almost the entire landmass is covered with ice that can be more than 4 km thick!
Even though it looks empty, Antarctica plays a major role in Earth’s climate, oceans, and weather systems.
Key Highlights:
99% of Antarctica is covered in ice
It holds 70% of Earth’s fresh water
Has the highest average elevation of all continents
Surrounded by the powerful Southern Ocean
Introduction
Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent, located around the South Pole.
It is the 5th largest continent and almost entirely covered by ice.
Key Facts
Area: 14 million km²
Ice covers 98% of the continent
Ice thickness: Up to 4.8 km
Holds 70% of the world’s freshwater
Important Regions
East Antarctica – the largest and highest part
West Antarctica – contains large floating ice shelves
Antarctic Peninsula – the warmest part, closest to South America
Major Ice Shelves
Ross Ice Shelf
Ronne Ice Shelf
These shelves are massive floating platforms of ice connected to land.
Interesting Point
If all the Antarctic ice melted, sea levels could rise by 58 meters worldwide.
Google Sites
Report abuse