Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent on earth and it's 98 percent covered in ice. In fact, 90 percent of all of the world's ice is located here. Scientists say that if all of the ice in Antarctica melted, it would raise the sea level by 200 ft (60 meters) around the world.
There are lots of different types of ice in Antarctica which, paradoxically, is also the driest continent on earth. Rainfall is spare, but there are vast amounts of ice. An ice shelf is a floating mass of ice. An ice wall is ice that sits on ground. An ice stream (also called an outlet glacier) is a frozen river. Most of Antarctica consists of ice shelf and ice walls, massive mountains of ice that float or rest on the earth.
Antarctica is also home to many mountains, the highest of which is Vinson Massif at 16,000 feet (about 5,000 meters). Many volcanoes are located in Antarctica but most are believed to be inactive. Mt. Erebus, a known active volcano, takes the honors as the world's southernmost volcano. Deception Island is actually a volcano which last erupted in 1970. Occasional less dramatic lava flows have occurred since then.
In 2004, an underwater volcano was discovered off Antarctica. This volcano has no name but there is some suggestion among scientists that it is an active volcano as well.
So what is it like visiting Antarctica? First, it's cold. The coldest temperature on earth was recorded here (129 degrees below zero Fahrenheit or 89 below zero Celsius). Even in summer in the most temperate areas of the continent, temperatures rarely climb above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (15 C). If you've been to the North Pole, it is not necessarily a fair comparison. Antarctica is colder.
Despite these unbelievably harsh temperatures (which obviously require special clothing), sunburn is a real threat because of the reflective quality of the snow. Eye protection is an absolute requirement.
Because of its location, sunlight will vary by season. In the summer, it's daylight round the clock, but in the winter, it's dark all of the time. As seasons shift, the balance of light and darkness shifts with it, but at the extremes, the light situation takes some getting used to.
While wind speeds in the interior of the continent are moderate (remember, Antarctica is also the windiest place on earth), storm-force winds are very common along the coast.
Visitors can marvel at the Southern Lights, a natural phenomenon that causes the Antarctic night sky to glow.
Another natural marvel is so-called "diamond dust," a cloud that hugs the earth and is composed of tiny ice crystals that sparkle like diamonds. Visitors to Antarctica also report something they call the "sun dog," which is an optical illusion that makes it look like the sun has a bright light right next to it.
Although today there are residents in Antarctica and even a few people who can list Antarctica on their birth certificate, the continent is not really inhabited the same way, say, New York is inhabited. Nevertheless, you will find temporary residents here and there in small outposts, mainly involved in conducting scientific research.
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