Antarctica, the world’s southernmost continent, is almost wholly covered by an ice sheet and is about 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km) in size. Without any ice, antarctica would emerge as a giant peninsula and archipelago of mountainous islands, known as lesser antarctica, and a single large landmass about the size of australia, known as greater antarctica. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and least populated continent on the planet It is in the southern hemisphere and it is surrounded by the southern ocean. During summer, antarctica is on the side of earth tilted toward the sun and is in constant sunlight In the winter, antarctica is on the side of earth tilted away from the sun, causing the continent to be dark
Antarctica is considered a desert because it receives very little rain or snowfall. Antarctica is a continent capped by an inland ice sheet up to 4.8km thick, containing approximately 90% of the world’s total surface fresh water (and 60% of the world’s total fresh water). Despite its massive size, antarctica has no permanent population due to its harsh climate, icy terrain, and remote location. Hektoria glacier on the antarctic peninsula lost nearly half its size astonishingly rapidly Scientists have now discovered the reasons behind its rapid retreat and say it raises fears for sea. Cool australian antarctic program news about wildlife, scientific research, stations (bases), expeditioners, ships, the environment and jobs in antarctica.
