Quick Facts about Antarctica

Antarctica...

This land-based continent is the highest, driest, coldest, windiest, and emptiest place on earth. An ice sheet covers approximately 98% of Antarctica's 14 million square kilometers. At its thickest point the ice sheet is 4,776 meters deep. This ice is approximately 90% of all the world's ice (by volume) and it is 70% of all the world's fresh water. There are many penguins and abundant sea life-but there are no indigenous peoples.

Temperatures...

The mean annual temperature at South Pole Station is minus 56F. During the Austral Summer, temperatures at McMurdo Station may reach as high as 40F, while at the South Pole Station, the summer temperature may reach 0 F. Palmer Station has a milder climate, with summer temperatures reaching as high as 55F.

Daylight and Darkness...

Simply put, the area below 60 degrees south enjoys one long day and one long night each year-with weeks of sunrise and sunset in between. There are spectacular displays of aurora australis (southern lights) during winter darkness.

Ownership

No nation owns Antarctica. The Antarctic Treaty, which has been signed by 44 countries, reserves the area south of 60 degrees south as a zone for the peaceful conduct of research. Treaty nations coordinate and cooperate to maximize research results and logistics requirements.

Size and Distance...

The continent is roughly 14 million sq kilometers. The USA is only 9.36 million sq kilometers.

Science

Due to a variety of unique conditions, Antarctica provides excellent conditions for a variety of scientific research including global warming, ozone changes,climatology, earth science, glaciology, astronomy, UV radiation, oceanic circulation, marine ecosystems, meteorite studies, ect.

History

The existence of Antarctica was only hypothesis until it was first sighted in 1820-21. No one set foot on the continent until 1895. The South Pole was first reached by a Norwegian Team in 1911. Antarctica's history is packed full of extraordinary stories of heroism and survival.

(United States Antarctica Program, Participation Guide 2000-2002 edition)