Antarctica - Wikipedia
WebAntarctica (/ æ n ˈ t ɑːr k t ɪ k ə / ⓘ) is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole.
Antarctica | History, Map, Climate, & Facts | Britannica
WebApr 28, 2024 · Often described as a continent of superlatives, Antarctica is not only the world’s southernmost continent. It is also the world’s highest, driest, windiest, coldest, and iciest continent. Antarctica is about 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km) in size, and thick ice covers about 98 percent of the land.
Antarctic - Wikipedia
WebThe Antarctic ( / ænˈtɑːrtɪk / or / ænˈtɑːrktɪk /, American English also / æntˈɑːrtɪk / or / æntˈɑːrktɪk /; commonly / æˈnɑːrtɪk /) [Note 1] is a polar region around Earth 's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole .
Antarctica - National Geographic Society
WebThe continent of Antarctica makes up most of the Antarctic region. The Antarctic is a cold, remote area in the Southern Hemisphere encompassed by the Antarctic Convergence.The Antarctic Convergence is an uneven line of latitude where cold, northward-flowing Antarctic waters meet the warmer waters of the world’s oceans.The Antarctic covers …
History of Antarctica - Wikipedia
WebThe history of Antarctica emerges from early Western theories of a vast continent, known as Terra Australis, believed to exist in the far south of the globe. The term Antarctic, referring to the opposite of the Arctic Circle, was coined by Marinus of Tyre in the 2nd century AD.
Geography and history of the exploration of Antarctica
WebFor the full article, see Antarctica . Antarctica, Fifth largest continent on Earth. Antarctica lies concentrically around the South Pole, its landmass almost wholly covered by a vast ice sheet averaging 6,500 ft (2,000 m) thick.
Antarctica - World Factbook Glyph
WebTerrain. about 99% thick continental ice sheet and 1% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 m; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 m; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the …
Frequently Asked Questions About Antarctica - NASA
WebAug 9, 2023 · What is Antarctica? Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent on Earth. It is almost completely covered in ice. Antarctica covers the Earth’s South Pole. What Is Antarctica Like? Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The average temperature in the winter is minus 34.4 Celsius (minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit).
Antarctica - Ice, Wildlife, Continent | Britannica
WebAntarctica became isolated with the opening of the Drake Passage between the continent and South America sometime between 49 million and 17 million years ago, a time when land mammals diversified and flourished elsewhere, populating all the other continents of …
What Is Antarctica? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
WebApr 22, 2024 · Antarctica is Earth's fifth largest continent. Image credit: NASA. What is Antarctica like? Pack your snowshoes, hat, gloves, and the puffiest jacket you have – because Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth! The average temperature in Antarctica in the winter is minus 34.4 Celsius (minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit).
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