Antarctica is the fifth largest continent. Although Antarctica is larger than Australia, nobody lives there all the time. That is because Antarctica is the coldest and iciest place in the world. The South Pole is located in Antarctica.
The stormy waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans surround Antarctica. Ships must steer around towering icebergs and break through huge ice fields to reach the continent. On Antarctica, most of the land is buried in ice. This ice can measure thousands of metres thick about five times as tall as the world’s tallest building. But under the ice, Antarctica has mountains, lowlands, and valleys, just as the other continents do. One area near the South Pole is called a “polar desert” because so little snow falls there.
Scientists and travellers visit Antarctica for short periods. Scientists from many nations come to study the continent’s animals and plants, ice, and rocks. Only a few small plants and insects can survive on Antarctica;s dry land. But many animals, including fish, penguins, whales and flying birds, live in the cold waters around Antarctica.
Picture Credit : Google
