Interested in Antarctica info to be taught extra concerning the frozen continent? So are we, so we travelled right down to Antarctica 3 times to be taught all the pieces we may about it! Listed here are 15 info about Antarctica that blew us away.
Distant, wild, frigid and huge – Antarctica, also called the White Continent, is among the most sensational and distinctive ecosystems on earth.
House to considerable wildlife, monumental glaciers and nearly all of the world’s ice, it’s a vacation spot that has been intriguing explorers and travellers for hundreds of years.
We’ve personally travelled to Antarctica 3 times now working as photographers and tour leaders, and have many extra pictures excursions deliberate within the coming years.
Each time we get down there we’re blown away at simply how attention-grabbing the ice coated continent is.
In addition to loving all the pieces that may be discovered down beneath the Antarctic circle, we additionally love a little bit of trivia, which is why we put collectively this fun-filled information to our favorite info about Antarctica.
Antarctica Info That Will Make You Wish to Journey Right here Instantly
With out additional ado, listed below are essentially the most attention-grabbing Antarctica info that may make you like the place as a lot as we do.
After our very profitable tour to Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands this 12 months, we’re going to be working one other unique journey right down to the Peninsula in 2024! Take a look at the tour web page when you’d prefer to be taught extra.
There are 7 Species of Penguins that Dwell in Antarctica
For those who’re questioning “What number of forms of penguins stay in Antarctica?”, surprise no extra, as a result of the reply is there are 7 species of penguins that stay within the Antarctic!
- Gentoo penguins
- Adelie penguins
- Chinstrap penguins
- Emperor penguins
- King penguins
- Macaroni penguins
- Rockhopper penguins
Adelie penguins and Emperor penguins can solely be present in Antarctica, whereas the others can be seen within the sub-Antarctic islands akin to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
There are 6 Totally different Species of Seals in Antarctica
You’ll be thrilled to be taught that there are 6 sorts of seals that stay within the waters surrounding Antarctica. They’re:
- Fur seals
- Ross seals
- Weddell seals
- Leopard seals
- Crabeater seals
- Elephant seals
Male elephant seals are the most important, weighing as much as 4 tonnes, and feminine fur seals are the smallest, weighing as little as 150kg absolutely grown.
Antarctica is the Southernmost Continent on Earth
This one it’s possible you’ll already know, however to set the document straight, Antarctica is the southernmost continent on the planet.
The large landmass is situated on the backside of the globe, being an ice coated continent surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
Antarctica Covers an Space of 13.66 Million Sq. Kilometres
At 13.66 million km², or 5.27 million sq. miles, it’s the fifth largest continent when it comes to land space.
This makes it roughly the identical measurement as america and Mexico mixed.
The Highest Mountain in Antarctica is Mount Vinson
Mount Vinson, or the Vinson Massif, is the best mountain peak in Antarctica.
It stands 4,892m (16,050 ft) tall and is situated south of the Antarctic Peninsula amongst one of many world’s largest mountain ranges.
That makes it round half the peak of Mount Everest.
Bonus reality – The second tallest mountain in Antarctica is Mount Tyree at 4,852m above sea degree, and is simply 13km northwest of Mount Vinson.
Antarctica is Thought of the Coldest Place on Earth
Neglect Siberia. The Antarctic is formally the coldest place on earth, with the bottom temperature ever recorded being -89.2°C (-128.6°F) at Vostok Station.
The yearly common temperature of Antarctica varies from 10°C on the coast to a freezing −60°C within the inside in direction of the South Pole.
Throw in the truth that it’s additionally the windiest continent on earth, and also you begin to perceive simply how desolate and wild it truly is down there.
Antarctica is a Desert
Regardless of being coated in ice and snow, Antarctica is technically a desert as a result of little or no annual precipitation it receives.
On common the coast will get round 166mm of precipitation, and the additional inland you get this quantity drops even decrease.
The official metric that almost all local weather scientists abide by is that to be categorised a desert, an space of land mustn’t get greater than 250mm (or 10 inches) of precipitation in a traditional 12 months.
This reality about Antartica additionally makes it the driest continent on this planet of all of the seven continents.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet is Nearly 5km Thick
At it’s thickest, the inland ice sheet of Antarctica is 4,776m deep, and the common thickness is 2,160m throughout all the continent.
That’s in no way although. That a lot quantity of ice totals a mind-boggling 30 million km²!
READ MORE: Fascinated with visiting Antarctica? Take a look at our complete information on what to do there!
Antarctica Incorporates 70% of the World’s Recent Water
All of that ice and snow in sub zero temperatures accommodates roughly 70% of the planet’s contemporary water.
If all the ice shelf was to soften, specialists consider the oceans would rise by 70m! All of the extra purpose to guard the planet from local weather change.
Roald Amundsen was the First Particular person to Attain the South Pole
In a hotly contested race to the South Pole, Roald Amundsen and his staff from Norway grew to become the primary individuals to achieve the southern tip of the earth on December 14th, 1911.
Amundsen simply beat British explorer Robert Falcon Scott by simply 34 days for this unbelievable achievement.
Antarctica is House to Distinctive Wildlife
We’ve already talked about what number of totally different species of penguins and seals stay in Antarctica, however there’s a lot extra wildlife that calls Antarctica dwelling!
There’s an considerable variety in marine life, from krill proper as much as the most important mammal on the planet, the blue whale, and all the pieces in between.
A plethora of sea birds migrate down right here in the summertime months to feed and breed, together with albatross, petrels and terns.
For those who’re planning a visit to Antarctica you then’re little question going to finish up with hundreds of pictures of wildlife, and all people finally ends up with a special favorite animal.
Ours? Adelie penguins!
There Are No Polar Bears in Antarctica
You’re pondering of the Arctic. Sorry about that.
No walrus both.
Antarctica was First ‘Formally’ Found in 1820
In line with confirmed stories, the very first sighting of the Antarctic coast was on the twenty seventh January 1820 by Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen.
Earlier than that Captain James Cook dinner recorded crossing the Antarctic Circle in January 1773, however didn’t sight land.
There’s proof nonetheless that Maori individuals presumably reached Antarctica within the seventh century A.D, greater than 1000 years earlier than von Bellingshausen. Supply.
The Antarctic Treaty Was Signed in 1959
On December 1, 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. by 12 nations that had been conducting analysis and actions in Antarctica on the time.
The aim of the Treaty is to advertise peaceable scientific analysis in Antarctica, and to guard the seventh continent’s distinctive atmosphere.
It additionally prohibits any army exercise or establishing army bases there.
At present, there are 54 events signed to the treaty.
There Are No Everlasting Residents in Antarctica
Whereas there are a variety of analysis stations operated by totally different nations all through Antarctica, no one lives completely on the continent.
It’s a Hotbed of Scientific Analysis
As a result of so many nations have established analysis stations right here, monitoring all the pieces from the coldest temperature recorded to the motion of the ice cabinets and even measuring the opening within the ozone layer, there’s a variety of issues that scientists found proper right here from the seventh continent.
Antarctica is Essential for Monitoring Local weather Change
For scientists finding out local weather change and the results of worldwide warming, Antarctica supplies a captivating and scary perception into the world’s climate.
Picturing an ice free Antarctic and what that might appear to be for international sea ranges is a part of the problem at the moment being seemed into by scientists.
EXCLUSIVE – Now we have partnered with the world’s high polar tour operator, Quark Expeditions, to supply readers of NOMADasaurus a really particular deal on any journey to Antarctica or the Arctic! Contact us ([email protected]) when you’d prefer to be taught extra.
Antarctica is Volcanic
There are a two energetic volcanoes in Antarctica which has helped type the geological foundations of the continent.
The most important energetic volcano is Mount Erebus (the second highest general after Mount Sidley), and the second is Deception Island under Cape Horn, the southernmost level South America.
There’s a Waterfall that Runs Pink
Taylor Glacier in McMurdo Dry Valleys is a 54km lengthy glacier that has a really distinctive function about it.
The lake that’s a part of the glacier is wealthy in iron deposits, and when elements of the ice soften they circulate crimson, which has develop into often known as ‘Blood Falls’.
Antarctica has the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights
The Northern Hemisphere has the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, however do you know that one of many coolest info about Antarctica is that the southern hemisphere has their very own comparable phenomena?
The Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, are the identical magnetic mild reveals that may be seen up north, and finest seen within the Antarctic winter (though summertime is feasible too if far sufficient south).
There are Extra Than 200,000 Glaciers in Antarctica!
Being such an amazing ice sheet means Antarctica is dwelling to greater than 200,000 glaciers.
From West Antarctica to East Antarctica and dropping into the Ross Ice Shelf, yow will discover glaciers nearly all over the place within the continent.
There Are Almost 400 Subglacial Lakes Right here
A subglacial lake is a lake that’s discovered beneath a glacier, ice cap or ice sheet, and there are virtually 400 of those on the continent.
Lake Vostok is the most important of all of them, being subglacial lake excessive within the Pole of Chilly close to Russia’s Vostok station.
This deep lake can also be the place the coldest air temperature recording was made – fairly loopy for a polar desert!
In Winter the Solar By no means Rises
One of many coolest Antarctica info that individuals are inquisitive about is that in winter the solar by no means really rises, that means there’s 24 dead nights.
That is as a result of reality Antarctica is up to now south and the world’s axis is tilted.
READ MORE: Find out about when the most effective time to go to Antarctica is with our information!
In Summer season the Solar By no means Units
Within the summertime the alternative is true – the solar by no means units beneath the Antarctic circle, offering fixed daylight throughout this pure reserve.
Antarctica Grows in Winter and Shrinks in Summer season
When the temperatures drop the ocean and freshwater freezes creating sea ice, ensuing within the ice thickness and floor of Antarctica getting larger.
In the summertime when the temperatures rise the Antarctic ice melts, making the continent smaller on its floor.
It’s Doable to Go to Antarctica as a Vacationer
Our remaining attention-grabbing reality about Antarctica is that you could really go to this spectacular, icy land as a vacationer!
Yearly various specialised, licensed tour operators run expeditions to Antarctica, permitting guests to see the windiest continent for themselves.
Many of the journeys go away from Ushuaia on the backside of South America, cross the Drake Passage after which return.
But it surely’s additionally doable to fly to Antarctica from Punta Arenas in Chile, or journey by way of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia too.
Just one or two journeys a 12 months go away from New Zealand or Australia, and these are normally for much longer journeys and much dearer, however they do go to part of the continent that only a few individuals ever see.
Antarctica stays one of the pristine, wild and exquisite locations on this planet, and with all these finest info about Antarctica we hope you’re extra than ever to attempt to get down there someday.
Eager to go to your self? Get in contact with us to be taught extra about our very unique Antarctica excursions!
