Where is Antarctica?
Antarctica is located in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere. It encapsulates the South Pole and is the coldest, driest, and the windiest continent. It is the fifth largest continent in the world, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents.
How big is Antarctica?
Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world. It is almost twice the size of Australia. It covers an area of 5,400,000 square miles. Its geographic coordinates are 90 00S, 0 00E.
What is the climate of Antarctica like?
Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The temperature remains well below freezing-point: minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit was the coldest natural temperature recorded in this region on July 21, 1983. It receives little rainfall and is a frozen desert. Because of its higher elevation, East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica. About 98% of the continent is covered by ice.
How did Antarctica get its name?
In 1890s, John George Bartholomew, a Scottish cartographer, became the first person to formally used Antarctica as a continental name. It is a Romanized version of the Greek compound word antarktike, meaning "opposite to the Arctic", "opposite to the north".
When was this continent sighting?
The first confirmed sighting of the continent was in 1820.
Websites:
http://mission-blue.org/2012/11/10-fun-facts-about-antarctica/
http://www.mapsofworld.com/antarctica/facts.html
Antarctica is located in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere. It encapsulates the South Pole and is the coldest, driest, and the windiest continent. It is the fifth largest continent in the world, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents.
How big is Antarctica?
Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world. It is almost twice the size of Australia. It covers an area of 5,400,000 square miles. Its geographic coordinates are 90 00S, 0 00E.
What is the climate of Antarctica like?
Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The temperature remains well below freezing-point: minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit was the coldest natural temperature recorded in this region on July 21, 1983. It receives little rainfall and is a frozen desert. Because of its higher elevation, East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica. About 98% of the continent is covered by ice.
How did Antarctica get its name?
In 1890s, John George Bartholomew, a Scottish cartographer, became the first person to formally used Antarctica as a continental name. It is a Romanized version of the Greek compound word antarktike, meaning "opposite to the Arctic", "opposite to the north".
When was this continent sighting?
The first confirmed sighting of the continent was in 1820.
Websites:
http://mission-blue.org/2012/11/10-fun-facts-about-antarctica/
http://www.mapsofworld.com/antarctica/facts.html