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Antarctica (Infoplease), Antarctica Portal (Wikipedia), Antarctica (DMOZ Tools)

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Antarctica : continent around the South Pole; a plateau covered by a great ice cap and mountain peaks area about 5,500,000 square miles (14,300,000 square kilometers) — Webster

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Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent. It contains the geographic South Pole and is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14,000,000 square kilometres (5,400,000 square miles), it is the fifth-largest continent. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages 1.9 km (1.2 mi; 6,200 ft) in thickness, which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Antarctica is a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 in) along the coast and far less inland. The temperature in Antarctica has reached −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F), though the average for the third quarter (the coldest part of the year) is −63 °C (−81 °F). Anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Organisms native to Antarctica include many types of algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, protista, and certain animals, such as mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades. Vegetation, where it occurs, is tundra. — Wikipedia

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Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis (“Southern Land”) date back to antiquity, the first confirmed sighting of the continent is commonly accepted to have occurred in 1820 by the Russian expedition of Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev. The continent, however, remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment, lack of resources, and isolation. — Wikipedia

History of Antarctica (Wikipedia)

Notebook from Scott of the Antarctic’s ill-fated expedition discovered 100 years later frozen in ice (ABC News)
Century-Old Notebook From Antarctic Expedition Found (Megan Gannon, Discovery, Live Science)

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Antarctic Sun - Science News Feed Science news items and articles displayed on the Antarctic Sun web site.

Genetics reveals how fish and seals adapt to...
on August 29, 2022 at 9:12 am
New research into seal and fish genomes is giving scientists clues to how these hardy animals evolved to survive the extreme cold of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
Key Antarctic fish species declining due to...
on August 22, 2022 at 9:12 am
New research finds populations of Antarctic silverfish along the West Antarctic Peninsula are plummeting due to warming temperatures and the loss of sea ice caused by climate change.
Shedding fluffy baby fur shapes how Weddell seal...
on June 6, 2022 at 9:12 am
Molting status determines when Weddell seal pups are ready for life in the water more than other developmental milestones, according to new research.
Wintertime flow of Blood Falls caught on camera...
on May 2, 2022 at 9:12 am
Researchers have caught a wintertime release of brine from Blood Falls on camera for the first time, but the exact cause of the curious phenomenon remains a mystery.
Antarctic microbe produces potential...
on April 18, 2022 at 9:12 am
Researchers map the genetic machinery behind a natural anti-cancer compound from Antarctica for the first time