Facts about Antarctica

Geography

Facts about Antarctica:

  • Antarctica is the fifth largest continent of the world.
  • It is earth’s Southernmost continent and site of the South pole.
  • The Antarctic ice sheet is the single biggest mass of ice in the world.
  • This continent is uninhabited ice covered land mass.
  • It is the world’s highest, driest, windiest, coldest and Iciest continent.
  • Antarctica has a surface area of over 14 million kilometres square.
  • Antarctica has a polar and tundra type of desert which covers with thick ice sheet throughout the year.
  • About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice.
  • The English sailor James Cook for the first time discovered this continent but he could not able to land on the mainland.
  • In 1827 Fabian Belling shausen Russian was the first person who discovered the mainland of Antarctica on his ship named Vastok.
  • Roald Amundson is the first person who reached to south pole in 1911.
  • In 1960 Ram Charan ji was the first Indian who reached Antarctica.
  • Dr. Giriraj Sirohi was the first Indian to reached to South pole in 1960.
  • About 30 different countries that operate 80 research stations situated around this continent.
  • In 1983 India established its centre in Antarctica called Dakshin Gangotri, at Central Dronning Maud Land region and this place was abandoned in 1990 because it is buried under snow.
  • Since 1988, research base Maitri station is operational in the central part of Schirmacher Oasis,  Central dronning Maud Land region of East Antarctica.
  • On 20 March 2009 India established its third research centre Bharti in lasermann hills to study the hilly region. The service period of this centre is fixed for 25 years.
  • Palmer Peninsula is only part of Antarctica which is ice free from some extent.
  • 80% of the world’s freshwater reserves are stored here.
  • Tundra type of vegetation is found here.
  • Undertaker is also known as Dynamic or Active continent.
  • Vida is a saline lake found in Antarctica. Its salinity is equal to the Dead sea.
  • Lichen and moss are the important vegetation found in Antarctica.
  • Penguin a flightless bird found in Antarctica
  • Albatross and petrels are the flying sea bird found in coastal areas of Antarctica.
  • Between 22nd March and 23rd September, the sun is not visible in Antarctica.
  • Between 24 September and 21st March the sun never sets
  • In 1983 Russia sets its research station named the Russian bostock resource station in East Antarctica.
  • The highest peak in Antarctica is Mt. Vinson Massif.
  • Erebus is the only active volcano in Antarctica.
  • This continent is surrounded by three oceans named the Indian Ocean, the Pacific ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Antarctica is on average the windiest place on the earth.
  • The dry valleys in Antarctica are the driest places on the earth.
  • Antarctica actually holds one of the world’s biggest mountain range named the Gamburtsev mountain . Stretches out more than 1200 kilometre.
  • Vostok lake in Antarctica is another geographical feature which is hidden under the ice sheet, it is a freshwater lake buried under 4 kilometre of frozen water.
  • The first person who born on Antarctica is Marco Palma in January 1979.
  • Minerals like coal in the transantarctic mountain and iron found near The Prince Charles mountain of East Antarctica.