Browsing: Antarctica

Antarctica, the Earth’s southernmost continent, is a vast, icy landmass encircled by the Southern Ocean. Covering approximately 14 million square kilometers, it is the fifth-largest continent and nearly twice the size of Australia. Characterized by extreme cold, wind, and dryness, it is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent. Antarctica is covered almost entirely by an ice sheet that contains about 90% of the world’s fresh water ice and significantly influences global climate and sea levels. This continent has no permanent human inhabitants, but it hosts a number of seasonal research stations operated by various countries, where scientists study the environment and conduct experiments that can only be performed in such extreme conditions. Research focuses on glaciology, meteorology, climate change, astronomy, and biology. Antarctica is unique because it is governed by an international agreement known as the Antarctic Treaty, which was established in 1959 to reserve the continent for peaceful scientific exploration and to protect its environment from significant human impact. This treaty prohibits military activities, mineral mining, and enforces environmental protection measures.