In the Classroom

Facts About Exploring the Polar Region

Ice covers 98% of the continent.
Within the ice cap that covers Antarctica is between 70 and 90% of the world’s fresh water.
Antarctica is the fifth largest continent following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe.
Antarctica is slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US.
The lowest temperature, -89.6 degrees C (-129.3 degrees F) on earth was recorded in Antarctica in July of 1983.
Antarctica is warmest in the month of January, when the temperature along the coast averages slightly below freezing.
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent.
The temperature on Antarctica ranges from -70 degrees C (-94 degrees F) in the winter to 0 degrees C (32 degrees F) in the summer.
The coast is the warmest part of Antarctica.
During summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than the Equator in an equivalent period.
Antarctica has no native peoples; between 800 and a few thousand people live temporarily on Antarctic research bases throughout the year.
The largest permanent inhabitant of Antarctica is a wingless fly.
The only species of penguin to live in Antarctica throughout the winter is the Emporer penguin.
The stripes and different colored layers of the Antarctic icebergs represent different layers of snowfall. Pale or white layers indicate the snow fell in very cold conditions. Darker, bluer layers indicate that the snow fell in relatively warm or wet conditions.
Penguins, whales and seals that swim in the waters around Antarctica are warm blooded and maintain internal body temperatures similar to warm blooded animals in any other climate zone. They have to keep high body temperatures to remain active in the frigid temperatures.
Because of Antarctica’s low annual snowfall, most of the continent is technically a desert.
Squid range in size from the small (c.15 cm) Brachioteuthis to the enormous (4 m) Mesonychoteuthis, which has large hooks, as well as suckers, on its arm and tentacles for capturing prey.
In the Antarctic waters live two natural groups of seals (True seals and Fur seals), which are related to sea-lions. Depending on species, seals feed on fish and squid and/or krill.
Krill are small, shrimp-like animals that grow up to about 6 cm in length and live for up to 5 years. The krill, which usually live in dense swarms that may have more than 10,000 krill in each cubic meter of water, are the main food source for whales.
The small part of Antarctica that is not covered in ice contains majestic mountain ranges.
Active volcanoes can be found on Antarctica. Among volcanoes that still erupt are Deception Island, Mount Erebus, and the South Sandwich Islands.
Antarctic “oases” are rocky landscapes not covered by ice.