All About All About AntarcticaAntarctica

Earth's southernmost continent.Earth's southernmost continent.

The coldest, driest, and windiest continent.The coldest, driest, and windiest continent.

Coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth Coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth −128.6 °F −128.6 °F

Antarctic sea life includes:Antarctic sea life includes:

penguins penguins

blue whales blue whales

orcas orcas

fur sealsfur seals

colossal squidscolossal squids

Antarctica has no government & belongs to no countryAntarctica has no government & belongs to no country

Antarctica has no permanent residentsAntarctica has no permanent residents

Its status is regulated by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty Its status is regulated by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty

Date    

Country      Territory      Claim limits     

1908     United Kingdom

    British Antarctic Territory

20°W to 80°W

1923     New Zealand

    Ross Dependency 150°W to 160°E

1924     France     Adélie Land 142°2'E to 136°11'E

1929     Norway  Peter I Island   68°50′S 90°35′W68.833°S 90.583°W)

1933     Australia  Australian Antarctic Territory

160°E to 142°2'E and136°11'E to 44°38'E

1939     Norway  Queen Maud Land 44°38'E to 20°W

1940     Chile     Antártica 53°W to 90°W

1943     Argentina     Argentine Antarctica

25°W to 74°W

— None Unclaimed territory(Marie Byrd Land)

90°W to 150°W(except the Peter I Island)

Over 4,000 scientists operate research Over 4,000 scientists operate research stationsstations

28 nations operate research stations28 nations operate research stations & & conduct experimentsconduct experiments

Antarctic Treaty prohibits any military Antarctic Treaty prohibits any military activities activities

If Antarctica's ice sheets melted, the worlds If Antarctica's ice sheets melted, the worlds oceans would rise by 200 – 210 feet oceans would rise by 200 – 210 feet - everywhere. - everywhere.

Antarctica is the best place in the world to find Antarctica is the best place in the world to find meteorites. meteorites.

Possibly the biggest iceberg ever, broke free Possibly the biggest iceberg ever, broke free from the from the Ross ice shelf in Antarctica in 2000. Ross ice shelf in Antarctica in 2000. It was 183 It was 183 miles miles long and 23 miles wide, similar in size to long and 23 miles wide, similar in size to Connecticut.Connecticut.

The Antarctic ice cap hasThe Antarctic ice cap has 90% of all the ice on 90% of all the ice on earthearth and between 60 and 70 % and between 60 and 70 % of all of the world's of all of the world's fresh water. fresh water.

ANTARCTICA FACTSANTARCTICA FACTS