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What is Antarctica?

A map of Antarctica showing Mount Vinson, Deception Island, Port Lockroy, Mount Erebus, the South Pole and the Southern Ocean.
Image caption,
Map of Antarctica
  • Antarctica is in the southern hemisphere.
  • It is a large continent covered by ice.
  • No one lives in Antarctica permanently but some scientists and explorers can live there for short periods of time. They stay to do experiments and find out more about the ice and snow.
  • Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
  • More than 100 years ago explorers tried to reach the South Pole which is near the middle of Antarctica.
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What is Antarctica like?

Cartoon of Mount Vinson and a much smaller mountain with the Scottish flag on it. There is a ruler measuring the mountains.
Image caption,
Mount Vinson is more than three times higher than the biggest mountain in the UK.
  • It is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth.
  • There is no one country in charge of Antarctica. Lots of countries have said they will work together to protect it.
  • Mount Vinson is the highest mountain in Antarctica - it's 4,892 metres tall.
  • Mount Erebus and Deception Island are volcanos in Antarctica.
  • In the summer it is light for 24 hours of the day. In the winter months it is always dark.
Cartoon of Mount Vinson and a much smaller mountain with the Scottish flag on it. There is a ruler measuring the mountains.
Image caption,
Mount Vinson is more than three times higher than the biggest mountain in the UK.
A research station in Antarctica.
Image caption,
A research station in Antarctica.
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Watch: Explore Antarctica

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Why are there no children in Antarctica?

  • The only children in Antarctica might be ones who go on holidays with their families. No children live in Antarctica. It would be too cold to grow up there.
  • In parts of Antarctica the winter temperature can be minus 60掳C.
  • Scientists do experiments to see how the cold affects humans of the world. They also look at the animals and any plants.

Watch this short video from 大象传媒 Bitesize to see more of wildlife and nature that can be found in Antarctica.

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Let's compare 鈥 Antarctica and the UK

Ice and water in Antarctica.
  • Antarctica is a long way south from the UK. It is bigger than Europe.
  • You cannot grow any crops on ice and snow so there is very little food other than fish.
  • People can travel to Antarctica by boat.
  • Another way to reach Antarctica is by air.
Ice and water in Antarctica.
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Did you know?

Penguin Post Office at Port Lockroy in Antarctica.
Image caption,
Penguin Post Office at Port Lockroy in Antarctica.

There is a post office at Port Lockroy in Antarctica.

It is nicknamed the Penguin Post Office because there are lots of penguins living nearby.

It can take months for post to arrive from here. The post office is only open for part of the year.

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Activity 1: What can you see in Antarctica?

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Activity 2: Quiz 鈥 Antarctica

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Play Bitesize Primary games. game

Fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art and design, computing and modern languages.

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