Antarctica

Antarctica

Location and Size

Antarctica is a unique continent but it does not have a native population. There is no country in Antarctica. Antarctica is the southernmost and fifth-largest continent in the world. Since it is located in the polar region, it is the coldest continent with a permanent cover of ice. It is separated from the rest of the world by the icy water of the southern portions of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It covers about 9.3% of the earth surface with an area of over 14 million sq km. This continents landform consists of some mountain ranges, peaks, valleys, glaciers plateau, ice shelf, lakes and volcanoes. The length of the Trans-Antarctic mountain is 3200 km which divides the entire continent into two halves:

1. West Antarctica

2. East Antarctica

The West Antarctica faces the Pacific Ocean. The Antarctic Peninsula which points towards the South America shows that it is the continuation of the Andes mountain range. The East Antarctica faces the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. The Mt. Erebus in this region is an active volcano. It is located in the Ross Island.

It is the only continent called white continent. In some places its ice cap is 4,000 meters deep.

Scientists of any country are free to conduct experiments and collect data from Antarctica. Hence it is called 'continent of Science'.

Climate

The climate of Antarctica is freezing cold, because of its distance from the Equator. During the months of May,June and July (winter period of Antarctica) the sun never rises in this region. So, the temperature at the South Pole falls to -90ºC. In the summer months of December, January and February, the sun never sets and there is a continuous day light. The summer temperature is about 0ºC. Extremely Cold and icy winds blow throughout the year.

Antarctica is the largest piece of ice on the surface of Earth. About 70% of Earth’s fresh water is in the Antarctic ice cap.

Flora and Fauna

Since the temperature is below freezing point almost throughout the year, no major vegetation is found in this continent. Simple plants like algae, mosses, liverworts, lichens and microscopic fungi can survive and grow in Antarctica. Some algae live in the snow, while other plants grow on the coastal rocky land that is ice free. A few species of plants, such as plankton, algae and mosses are seen in and around Antarctica’s fresh and saltwater lakes.

Small red fish called krill are found in large shoals .It is the food for many warm blooded sea animals. The living creatures of this region are include whales, seals, walrus and sea birds like penguins, albatross, polar Skua and Stout. The blue whale is the largest animal which feeds on plankton. All these animals and birds have a thick layer of fat called blubber which helps them to withstand the cold condition. Penguin birds in Antarctica cannot fly. They have webbed feet and flipper instead of wings. Small invertebrates are the only land animals which lives in the continent.

Vinson Massif (5140m) is the highest peak in Antarctica. It is located in the southern part of Sentinel Range. Lambert glacier of this continent is the largest glacier in the world.

Minerals

Scientific studies show that the Antarctic continent is to be rich in gold, platinum, nickel, copper and petroleum. Traces of chromium, lead, molybdenum, tin, uranium, and zinc are also seen. The possible resources of this region also include silver, platinum, iron ore, cobalt, manganese and titanium. Coal and hydrocarbons have been explored in minimal non-commercial quantities.

1. Mcmurdo is the largest research station in Antarctica. It was set up by the United States of America.

2. Dakshin Gangotri was the first Indian Scientifi c research base station in Antarctica

The international agreement on this continent does not permit the extraction of minerals. So, the extraction of minerals does not take place.

Expedition to Antarctica

In 1912, British and Norwegian teams reached the South Pole. Indian expedition team to Antarctica had 21 members with Dr.S.Z.Quasim as its leader. The team left Goa on 6th December 1981 and landed in Antarctica on 9th January 1982. Dakshin Gangotri, the first Indian scientific research station was established in this continent. Maitri and Bharathi are the other research stations of India in Antarctica.

Aurora

A natural Curtain of combination of bright pink, red and green colour light that appears in the sky near the north and south magnetic poles is called Aurora. The effect is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. It is also called Aurora Australis or Southern Lights in the South Pole and Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights in the North Pole. These amazing colours appear in the earth’s sky, especially in the high latitudinal countries like Alaska in the north and New Zealand of Falkland in the south.