Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

27

Antarctica 27-

Situated at the southernmost point

of the world, Antarctica covers an

area of about 5.5 million sq miles

(14 million sq km). The nearest

land masses are South America,

and New Zealand. The highest

point is Vinson Massif, which

rises to 16,067 ft (4,897 m).

TouriSM

Cruise liners have been bringing tourists to the Antarctic region

since the 1950s. in 1983, Chileans began to fly to King George island,

where an 80-bed hotel has been built for vacationers. Antarctica

receives several thousand tourists each year. Visitors come to see

the dramatic landscape and unique wildlife, such as King penguins.

-13°F (-25°C) Steel

crystallizes and

becomes brittle.

-40°F (-40°C) Synthetic

rubber becomes brittle,

and exposed flesh

freezes rapidly.

-128.2°F (-89°C)

Low est temperature

ever recorded, at

Vostok Research

Station, Antarctica,

1983.

ANTArCTiC TeMperATureS

28°F (2°C) Seawater

freezes. On the

Antarctic coast

summer temperatures

are only a degree or

so warmer than this.

MiNerAl weAlTh

Antarctica has deposits of minerals,

such as gold, copper, uranium, and

nickel. however, extracting them may

damage the fragile polar environment.

STreTChiNG ACroSS AN AreA larger than the united States, the

continent of Antarctica sits beneath a huge sheet of ice up to 1.2 miles

(2 km) thick. Antarctica is centered on the South pole and is surrounded

by the ice-covered Southern ocean. powerful winds create a storm belt

around the continent, bringing fog and severe blizzards. it is the coldest

and windiest place on earth. even during the short summers, the

temperature barely climbs above freezing, and the

sea ice only partly melts. in winter, temperatures can

plummet to -112 ̊F (-80 ̊C). Few animals and plants can

survive on land, but the surrounding seas teem with fish

and mammals. Due to its harsh climate, there are no

permanent residents of Antarctica. The only people

on the continent are tourists, and scientists and staff

working in research stations. human activity has led

to environmental concerns, including overfishing, the

depletion of the ozone layer above the region, and

the effects of global warming, which has led to the

melting of ice in some coastal areas.

SCieNTiFiC reSeArCh

There are 45 permanent, and as many

as 100 temporary, research stations

in Antarctica devoted to scientific

projects for 15 different nations.

Teams of scientists study the

wildlife and monitor the ice for

changes in earth’s atmosphere.

Antarctic-based research has

resulted in a number of scientific

breakthroughs, including the

discovery of a hole in the ozone

layer above the continent.

Gold

Platinum

Iron

Find out more

Continents

Glaciers and ice caps

inuits

polar wildlife

rain and snow

Scientists can use

satellites to track

the movements

of penguins

by attaching

a transmitter

to them.

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