WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ANTARCTICA Antarctica is unlike any other place on Earth It surrounds the southern end of the planet It is divided into East and West Antarctica and split by the Transantarctic Mountains There are no countries in Antarctica but Australia Argentina Chile France New Zealand Norway and the United Kingdom all claim ownership of various regions ANTARCTICA
Transantarctic Mountains Wilhelmina Bay Antarctica is covered in snow and ice including many glaciers No people live on Antarctica permanently Scientists and travelers usually stay in camps When their work is done they leave Researchers from almost every scientific field take part in projects in Antarctica Sometimes more than 4,000 people live there at once Journey to Antarctica and discover why it is such an interesting place Antarctica by the Numbers Population Changes with seasons and number of scientists and travelers Size About 5 5 million square miles or 14 2 million square kilometers Highest Point Mount Vinson 16,050 feet or 4,892 meters
GIANT ICE AND EXTREME LIFE Temperatures in Antarctica range from about 14 F 10 C along the ocean to 76 F 60 C at the highest points In summer the temperature usually stays around 32 F 0 C Most of the continent is always covered in ice The Balleny Islands were formed by volcanoes They are very rocky and slick with ice This makes it nearly impossible to get to the islands
Most of an iceberg is below the surface of the water Smaller broken pieces of icebergs are called growlers About 75 percent of Antarctica is surrounded by ice shelves which are floating ice attached to land ice Antarctica also has sea ice which is free-floating frozen salty ocean water A glacier forms from a buildup of fresh water and snow A piece broken off an ice sheet or a glacier is an iceberg
