Human Anatomy and Physiology Textbook

Traveling to Antarctica Information about Antarctica

Traveling to Antarctica - Information about Antarctica

Antarctica is located around the South Pole. Antarctic continent is the fifth largest among the continents, with an area similar to the areas of United States and Europe together.
This area is the coldest part of the globe.
Antarctica is surrounded by the most turbulent seas in the world. There are blowing cold winds, frequent storms, little water sediment and winter is so strong that the whole of this area is almost completely deserted.
There is never enough solar heat in the country, which during the whole year is covered in snow.
The lowest temperature that was ever recorded in the world, was found just in Antarctica.
Due to the immense cold, in Antarctica the food doesn’t spoil, there is no mold, mildew or bacteria.

What lies beneath the ice cover?

It is not known exactly, because the Antarctic is not yet sufficiently researched. The researchers noted coal deposits and some minerals. It is possible there are other minerals, but it would be too difficult and too expensive to reach them so they remain intact.
There are the simplest forms of plant life - mosses, lichens, fungi and algae, which can be used as food. In this area only live birds and animals that can find food in the sea.
On the Antarctic often live some kinds of gulls, snow petrel and several species of penguins. Penguins live and bend their nest on the edge of the continent.
They have underdeveloped wings and can’t fly, but they are very good swimmers in the water. In the waters of Antarctica there are several species of seals and this area has many whales.

Where Is Antarctica located?

Antarctica is located around the South Pole.
Antarctic continent is the fifth largest among the continents, with an area similar to the areas of United States and Europe together.
This area is the coldest part of the globe. It is surrounded by the most turbulent seas in the world.

Map of Antarctica

Antarctica is located around the South Pole. Antarctic continent is the fifth largest among the continents, with an area similar to the areas of United States and Europe together.

Capital of Antarctica

Antarctica is the fifth largest continent with 98 percent of its surface covered by ice.
Antarctica has no permanent residents, cities, government and NO CAPITAL.
Several countries have their scientific research facilities on Antarctica.

Climate in Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest continent on the Earth. The coldest natural temperature ever recorded on the planet was −128.6 °F (−89.2 °C) and it was recorded at the Vostok Russian Station located in Antarctica on 21. 07.1983.
Antarctica is considered a frozen desert with very little precipitation.
On average temperatures there reach a minimum of between −112 °F (−80 °C) and −130 °F  (−90 °C) during the winter and a maximum of 41 °F  (5 °C) - 59 °F  (15 °C) during summer.

Antarctic Animals

Do you know of a place where it is always cold? There are two places like this, at opposite ends of the earth. The Arctic is the area around the North Pole, and the Antarctic is the area around the South Pole.
It’s so cold around the poles that snow and ice cover both the land and the sea for most of the year. Animals that survive here have different ways of coping with the cold.
The female emperor penguin stays at sea during the winter. It never gets as cold there as on land.
But the male penguin stays on the land to incubate an egg laid by his mate before she went to sea. The male penguin holds the egg on his feet. He has a thick flap of feathered skin there to keep the egg warm.
When the chick hatches, the father bird feeds it a thick, rich liquid, much like the milk of mammals. He produces this liquid in his throat.
When the females return in the spring, all the penguins call loudly, recognizing their mate by their voice. The females then look after the young penguins, and the males go off to sea.
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