Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent, being about 40% larger than Europe, and has an area of 14,200,000 km 2 (5,500,000 sq mi). Most of Antarctica is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, with an average thickness of 1.9 km (1.2 mi).

6 days ago · Antarctica, the world’s southernmost continent, is almost wholly covered by an ice sheet and is about 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km) in size. It is divided into East Antarctica (largely composed of a high ice-covered plateau) and West Antarctica (an archipelago of ice-covered mountainous islands).

Jan 22, 2025 · the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth; severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West …

Antarctica is the Earth 's southernmost and the continent with the least people. It is on the South Pole. It is almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle. Around Antarctica is the Southern Ocean. It is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. [2] . About 99% of Antarctica is covered by ice.

5 days ago · The Best Times to Visit Antarctica. Travelers hoping to visit Antarctica have a few months to do so, as cruise ships only operate during the summer months, which in Antarctica is from November to April. The best time to visit is from December to February when the temperatures are at their highest, and you’ll have the most sunlight. In January ...

Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent in terms of total area. (It is larger than both Oceania and Europe.) Antarctica is a unique continent in that it does not have a native human population. There are no countries in Antarctica. Seven countries made defined claims to Antarctic territory prior to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959.

Jan 14, 2025 · Antarctica is also an important region to study the effects of climate change. NASA’s NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) will measure changes in sea ice, snow extent, permafrost, and surface melting in higher resolution than ever before. Rising sea level from melting ice sheets can create dangerous conditions for people living close ...

Aug 9, 2023 · Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent on Earth. It is almost completely covered in ice. Antarctica covers the Earth’s South Pole. What Is Antarctica Like? Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The average temperature in the winter is …

A guide to Antarctica including a map of Antarctica and facts and information about Antarctica and the Antarctic circle.

Nov 15, 2021 · the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth; severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly ...