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General FAQ
last update: Feb 01, 2008 04:13 PM
Where is Antarctica?
Antarctica is a continent that surrounds the Geographic South Pole. The continent is also the coldest, and the continent with the highest mean altitude above sea level.
Where does the name Antarctica come from?
The name Antarctica derives from the Greek antarktos, or “opposite Arktos,” a constellation in the northern sky. The early Greeks arrived at the idea of a southern continent not by observation of any phenomena, but by virtue of their ideals of symmetry: land to the north must be balanced by land to the south, otherwise the Earth would lose its equilibrium.
Is Antarctica a Country?
Antarctica is not a country. It is an international conservation and research area, managed by a group of countries (see Antarctic Treaty for details). Hence no single person, organisation or country owns Antarctica.
Who runs Antarctica?
Antarctica is run by a group of counties all of whom are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty.
How big is Antarctica?
The area of Antarctica is 13,661,000 km², which is large when compared to the USA (9,363,132 km²) or Canada (9,976,147 km²).
How high is Antarctica?
Antarctica is the highest continent with a mean height above sea level of 2500m. The highest peak is Vinson Massif at 4897m.
How many stations are there in Antarctica?
There are 34 stations or bases in Antarctica that operate in the winter. During the summer there are many more bases, some only lasting for a season. You can find a list (with interactive map) with details of various Antarctic stations in the 70South Stations section.
How cold is Antarctica?
Antarctica is the coldest of the 7 continents. The coldest temperature was measured at the Vostok Station on 21 July 1983, measuring -89.2ºC. Take a look at the 70South Antarctic weather page for a look a weather conditions in Antarctica right now!
How windy is Antarctica?
Antarctica is the windiest of the 7 continents, with he highest recorded wind speed being 327 km/h measured at Dumont d'Urville on July 1972.
What type of Penguins are found in Antarctica?
Antarctica is home to 7 species of Penguin, the largest being the Emperor, the smallest being the Adelie. You can find a list with details of the various Antarctic penguins in the 70South Penguins section.
What is Antarctica's History?
Antarctica has an exciting and heroic history. Details of which can be found in the 70South History section.
