Antarctica information for kids

What does Antarctica mean for kids?

The southernmost continent in the world, Antarctica surrounds the South Pole. Its name means opposite to the Arctic (the Arctic is the region around the North Pole). The fifth largest continent, it has a greater land area than both Europe and Australia.

What is Antarctica known for?

Often described as a continent of superlatives, Antarctica is not only the world's southernmost continent. It is also the world's highest, driest, windiest, coldest, and iciest continent. Antarctica is about 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km) in size, and thick ice covers about 98 percent of the land.

What language is spoken in Antarctica?

The most commonly spoken language of Antarctica is Russian, which happens to be the official language of Bellingsgauzenia, New Devon, and Ognia. English is also one of the most widespread languages spoken. You can find English spoken in the Balleny Islands, New South Greenland, Eduarda, etc.

What do you teach kids in Antarctica?

Antarctica is the driest continent of the seven continents. Antarctica is an icy desert with very little rainfall throughout the year. 4. Antarctica is the windiest place on the earth where windspeed of more than 350 kilometres per hour/218 miles per hour have been measured.

What is an interesting fact about Antarctica?

1. Antarctica holds most of the world's fresh water. An incredible 60-90% of the world's fresh water is locked in Antarctica's vast ice sheet. The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest on Earth, covering an incredible 14 million km (5.4 million square miles) of Antarctic mountain ranges, valleys and plateaus.2 . 2021 .

What Antarctica looks like?

It is a very rough circular shape with the long arm of the Antarctic Peninsula stretching towards South America. There are two large indentations, the Ross and Weddell seas and their ice shelves. ... In the winter Antarctica doubles in size due to the sea ice that forms around the coasts.

Do polar bears live in Antarctica?

Polar bears live in the Arctic, but not Antarctica. Down south in Antarctica you'll find penguins, seals, whales and all kinds of seabirds, but never polar bears. Even though the north and south polar regions both have lots of snow and ice, polar bears stick to the north. ... Polar bears don't live in Antarctica.20 . 2021 .

Can people live in Antarctica?

Antarctica is the only continent with no permanent human habitation. There are, however, permanent human settlements, where scientists and support staff live for part of the year on a rotating basis. The continent of Antarctica makes up most of the Antarctic region.4 . 2012 .

Where is the capital of Antarctica?

Ushuaia. Ushuaia (population 67,600) is the capital of the Argentinean province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctic and South Atlantic Islands. It is commonly referred to as the southernmost city in the world.5 . 2016 .

Can you tell me some facts about Antarctica?

Introduction. ... It's seriously dry. ... There's a lot of wind. ... It's a big place. ... There's lots of ice. ... Antarctica is an icy land. ... It stores a lot of fresh water. ... It's melting. ... The ice is thick. ... It's bigger than the U.S. ...

What are some little known facts about Antartica?

Antarctica has a surface area of over 14 million km. there are only between 1000 to 5000 people in Antarctica. The Antarctic Ice Sheet averages a thickness of 1.9 km. 80% of the Earth's freshwater is in Antarctica's ice. the Antarctic cold reached -63C. 02 Antarctica is not lifeless. ...

What are some things about Antarctica?

The Dry Valleys in Antarctica are the driest places on earth. ... Antarctica is, on average, the windiest place on earth. Scientists exploring this southerly landmass have reported wind speeds that have reached up to 200 miles per hour. The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the single biggest mass of ice in the world and can sometimes be up to four miles thick. ... More items...

What is the habitat of Antarctica?

Antarctic habitat. Antarctica is the land that surrounds the South Pole . It is the Earths coldest and driest continent. The mainland has a layer of up to four-kilometre-thick ice, howling winds, and freezing temperatures. Only along the slightly warmer coastline can plants survive and animals come ashore.