Extreme Endeavors

Antarctica

Antarctica is 5,400,000 square miles in area-as big as the U.S. and Mexico combined, 98% of it is covered by a thick layer of ice and snow, and is the most isolated, coldest, windiest, driest, and highest continent in the world.

This world of snow and ice consists of six months of daylight and six months of darkness and sits alone. It is more than 2,800 miles away from Africa, 2,000 miles away from Australia and New Zealand, and it is 650 miles away from South America.

Antarctica’s location and bitter cold makes it one of earth’s last frontiers. During its winter, the temperature can drop to 127 degrees Below zero, and winds can gust up to 200 miles per hour. The continent was first seen in 1820, Even today no one lives there permanently, but Scientists and people who operate research stations do visit to study its unique wildlife and look for clues on the earth’s past and future.

You can get to Antarctica by boat or plane. Scientist who are headed for the main U.S. research outpost at Mc-Murdo Station usually fly there and those headed on to South Pole fly by LC-130 Aircraft that have skies instead of wheels to land on “ski-way” made of ice. Incredible as it may seem there is also wildlife in Antarctica, which is found mainly along the edges of the continent where the land meets the sea. The waters that surround Antarctica are the coldest in the world but it is much warmer than the land, so food and animals can survive.