A desert is defined by the amount of precipitation (rain, snow, mist and fog) in an area. A region that receives very little precipitation is classified as a desert. There are many types of deserts, including subtropical, coastal and polar deserts. What they all have in common is a barren, windswept landscape, which makes it difficult for plants and animals alike to gain a foothold on land. This all certainly applies to Antarctica.
The average yearly rainfall at the South Pole over the past 30 years was a tiny 10 mm (0.4 in). Most of the continent is covered by ice fields carved by the wind, and craggy mountains covered in glaciers. While Antarctica is home to wonderful forests of low-lying mosses and lichens, there are only two flowering plants that can survive the harsh conditions. And most of the animals we encounter – penguins, seals, whales and seabirds – rely on seafood for sustenance.
Credit: aurora expeditions
Picture Credit : Google
