How many kilometres from Ireland?? Antarctica is the world’s last great wilderness. It is a continent almost entirely buried by snow and ice. It is so.

Antarctica

How many kilometres from Ireland??

Antarctica is the world’s last great wilderness. It is a continent almost entirely buried by snow and ice. It is so hostile and remote that it has no permanent residents. Surrounded by the Southern Ocean, Antarctica covers nearly 9% of the Earth’s land, and is 25% bigger than Europe, making it the fifth largest continent. It is also the least polluted of all the continents.

About 99% of Antarctica is covered with a vast ice sheet. It is the largest single mass of ice on Earth and is bigger than the whole of Europe. At least 3 million years old (and possibly as much as 30 million years old in places), the ice sheet averages 2,450 metres deep and holds about 70% of the world’s fresh water. With such a thick layer of ice, Antarctica is the highest of all the continents

1773: In January, Captain James Cook and his crew become the first men to cross the Antarctic Circle.

1823: In February, Englishman James Weddell sails to 74 degrees south. This is the farthest south yet reached and the penetrated sea bears his name today. Except for possibly Morrell, no one is able to penetrate this sea again for eighty years.

1911: On December 14, Norwegian Roald Amundsen and four team members reach the South Pole. Amundsen discovered a new route which took only 57 days.

16, 340 KM!!

LOCATION OF ANTARCTICAWRITTEN

LOCATIONSUse the map to the left to write a short paragraph locating

Antarctica. Consider the following:

Nearby continents and countries,

surrounding seas and oceans, lines of longitude and

latitude.

June It’s the shortest and darkest day of the year. Tonight, the twenty of us still here are going to celebrate the winter solstice with a big party. Skiing on the sea ice has been fun too - it is the closest thing to walking on water!

FebruaryThere may be no trees here for leaves to fall off, but it’s getting colder and we are one step closer to winter. Those leaving soon are talking about the things they are going to do when they get home - have a pint of draught Guinness or go on holiday to a very hot, sunny place!

AprilDays are now shorter, temperatures lower, snowfall heavier and most of the wildlife has bid us farewell for warmer climes.

AugustThe solar panels and weather stations outside bang and clatter in the severe gales, so I haven’t got much sleep lately. Diving beneath the ice is one way to escape the wind, but once we’re back on the surface it doesn't take long for the bitter cold to freeze moulding our dry suits to our bodies.

NovemberThe weather is superb. Just imagine being here, sitting on the veranda, sun tan lotion and sunglasses on, watching seal pups playing together - how lucky are we!

IRELAND vs ANTARCTICA

How does the climate and seasons of Ireland

compare with Antarctica?

Adelie Penguins

Weddell seals

Killer Whales (orcas)

Snow Petrel

A huge variety of

fish