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Antarctica Introduction Antarctica is situated around the south pole, its total surface area is approximately 14,000,000 square kilometres. It is also fifth-largest
Antarctica Antarctica, also known as the "coldest and windiest place on earth", is home to the lowest temperature ever recorded at ?89.2 degree Celsius. With historic
Antarctica: Wilderness at Risk The non fiction book "Antarctica: Wilderness at Risk" written and researched by Barney Brewster gave me insight into the environmental
Explain how tourism to increasingly exotic locations, such as Antarctica, can cause conflicts. How can these conflicts be managed? Ecotourism has started growing
http:/www.penguintag.org/species_index_adelie.htm The Adelie penguin is the most common in Antarctica and it s also the smallest that is living in Antarctica. They
Submitted by Haxin on January 30, 2006
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Introduction
Antarctica is situated around the south pole, its total surface area is approximately 14,000,000 square kilometres. It is also fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe. Antarctica is the coldest continent in the world with severely low temperatures that vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing.
Antarctica is about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent.
Antarctica has rich deposits of iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries.
Wildlife Forms
Antarctica, the frozen continent surrounding the Earth's South Pole, and the frigid seas surrounding it, are home to many animals. In particular, the Antarctic seas are teeming with life, ranging from microscopic plankton to the biggest animal that ever lived on Earth, the Blue whale.
All of the Antarctic animals have adapted to life in extremely cold conditions. Some, like the whales, seals, and birds, have an insulating layer of fat to protect them from the cold. Others, like many fish and insects, have special...
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