Antarctica, the world’s southernmost continent, is almost wholly covered by an ice sheet and is about 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km) in size. Cool australian antarctic program news about wildlife, scientific research, stations (bases), expeditioners, ships, the environment and jobs in antarctica. Though antarctica is really, really chilly, it is considered a desert because it receives very little rain or snowfall The small amount of snow that does fall does not melt but builds up over hundreds and thousands of years to form large, thick ice sheets. Without any ice, antarctica would emerge as a giant peninsula and archipelago of mountainous islands, known as lesser antarctica, and a single large landmass about the size of australia, known as greater antarctica. Antarctica, a continent of unparalleled ice and stark beauty, is earth’s southernmost landmass, representing a vital frontier for scientific research and a testament to nature’s formidable power.
Learn how antarctica plays an important role in regulating the earth's temperature and oceans, storing carbon and a vital habitat for countless species in the southern ocean. Visit the definitions and notes page to view a description of each topic. Despite its massive size, antarctica has no permanent population due to its harsh climate, icy terrain, and remote location.
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