Antarctica
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| Area | 14,000,000 km2 (5,400,000 sq mi)[32] |
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Main article: Antarctica
Further information: Geography of Antarctica
Antarctica (
i/æntˈɑrtɨkə/ or /ænˈtɑrktɨkə/)[d] is Earth's southernmostcontinent, containing the geographic South Pole. It is situated in the Antarcticregion of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14.0 million km2 (5.4 million sq mi), it is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages at least 1 mile (1.6 km) in thickness.
i/æntˈɑrtɨkə/ or /ænˈtɑrktɨkə/)[d] is Earth's southernmostcontinent, containing the geographic South Pole. It is situated in the Antarcticregion of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14.0 million km2 (5.4 million sq mi), it is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages at least 1 mile (1.6 km) in thickness.
Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents.[33] Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 inches) along the coast and far less inland.[34] The temperature in Antarctica has reached −89 °C (−129 °F). There are no permanent human residents, but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Only cold-adapted organisms survive there, including many types of algae, animals (for example mites, nematodes, penguins, sealsand tardigrades), bacteria, fungi, plants, and protista. Vegetation where it occurs is tundra.
Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ("Southern Land") date back to antiquity, the first confirmed sighting of the continent is commonly accepted to have occurred in 1820 by the Russian expedition of Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev on Vostok and Mirny. The continent, however, remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment, lack of resources, and isolation. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by 12 countries; to date, 49 countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining, prohibits nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal, supports scientific research, and protects the continent'secozone. Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists from many nations.
Antarctica is regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System, which defines it as all land and ice shelves south of 60°S, and has no government and belongs to no country. However, the following territorial claims in Antarctica have been made:
- Argentina: Argentine Antarctica
- Australia: Australian Antarctic Territory
- Brazil: Brazilian Antarctica (unofficial)
- Chile: Antártica
- France: Adélie Land
- New Zealand: Ross Dependency
- Norway: Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land
- United Kingdom: British Antarctic Territory
- (Unclaimed: Marie Byrd Land)
Moreover, the following dependent territories are situated in the wider Antarctic Region:
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