Buzz
Although Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent, many of its secrets remain unknown. Few are aware of the fascinating aspects of this icy land, but this list aims to change that.
Antarctica is much more than a frozen home for penguins. It hides more than you'd expect beneath its ice sheets, revealing fascinating and unexpected features. Here are some of the most intriguing facts.
10. Territorial Divisions
With Antarctica being about 1.5 times the size of the United States, there's certainly a lot of territory to split. The continent is divided into two sections: East and West Antarctica. East Antarctica, the larger of the two, covers about two-thirds of the land. Interestingly, the Transantarctic Mountains act as the natural divide, forming one of the longest mountain ranges globally.
However, back during the Mesozoic era, this division didn’t exist. Fossils and other evidence reveal that Antarctica was once a lush, forested land teeming with animals—yes, even dinosaurs! This would have occurred between 252 million and 66 million years ago, long before the icy division we see today. Quite the transformation, wouldn't you say?
9. A Desert by Classification
For Antarctica to escape the desert label, it would need to receive more than 50 centimeters (20 inches) of precipitation annually. Instead, it only gets between 5 and 15 centimeters (2–6 inches) each year. What sets Antarctica apart from other deserts is that the snow doesn’t soak into the ground—it simply accumulates on top. The Dry Valleys of Antarctica (seen above) are the driest place on Earth, having gone without rain or snow for two million years!
Antarctica holds the title of the windiest place on Earth, with winds reaching speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour (200 mph)! How’s that for a gust of wind? Even more surprising, this icy continent contains about 70 percent of the world’s fresh water, despite being the driest. Antarctica is truly the most paradoxical continent, don’t you think?
8. Detailed Maps
While very few people, aside from scientists, inhabit Antarctica, the frozen land still boasts detailed maps. Most of these maps are made through satellite technology, but some areas have been personally surveyed by cartographers. These maps are so precise that you could even use them for navigation. In fact, if you're searching for the South Pole, it’s located in East Antarctica. Across the Transantarctic Mountains, you’ll find the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest of its kind in Antarctica, roughly the size of France.
The seas around Antarctica have been named as well, such as the Weddell Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Ross Sea, Amundsen Sea, Davis Sea, and Scotia Sea. There’s also Pine Island Bay. But don’t get too excited about taking a dip—swimming in these icy waters isn’t in the cards anytime soon.
7. Global Regulations
On December 1, 1959, 12 nations signed the Antarctic Treaty, which prohibited military activities in the region to prevent international conflict. The treaty now has 53 signatories. However, the story begins in 1820 when the continent was first spotted. Back then, navigating the Southern Ocean was difficult for wooden ships, so trips to Antarctica were rare. It wasn’t until two decades later that it was confirmed as a full continent, not just a chain of islands. An American seal hunter, John Davis, claimed to have set foot on Antarctica in 1821, though many historians remain skeptical of this.
Today, for those eager to visit Antarctica, expeditions such as National Geographic or Lindblad offer the opportunity. However, the Antarctic Treaty prohibits military training, mining, and nuclear activities on the continent. That said, Chile has a small village on the continent complete with a school, post office, hospital, hotel, and even TV and cell phone service. Vacation, anyone? But don’t expect a dog sled ride—huskies have been banned since 1994, and no non-native animals are allowed on the continent.
6. Hidden Subglacial Mountains
Beneath Antarctica lies the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, buried under an average of 600 meters (2,000 ft) of ice, with some areas reaching depths as extreme as 4,800 meters (15,570 ft). These mountains stretch across 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) beneath the continent, with peaks rising up to 2,700 meters (8,900 ft). By comparison, the highest point visible above ground in Antarctica is Mount Vinson, standing at 4,892 meters (16,050 ft).
Antarctica is also home to subglacial lakes, including Lake Vostok, one of the world’s largest. This massive lake sits under 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) of ice and rivals the size of Lake Ontario. Using remote sensing techniques, scientists have mapped its shape, and they believe the lake is relatively young, possibly just thousands of years old.
5. Permanent Research Stations
There are about 70 to 80 year-round research stations from 30 different countries in Antarctica. The largest is McMurdo Station, the primary American base, which can accommodate up to 3,000 people in the summer months (though other estimates put the population closer to 1,200). According to those who've spent time there, the ground is volcanic dirt, the weather is often foggy, penguins are absent, the station's exterior is unattractive, and the interior is no better. Despite this, these research stations are invaluable for scientists to make new discoveries about the planet every day.
Despite the Antarctic Treaty, Argentina once sent a pregnant woman to the continent as part of their attempt to lay claim to the land. (But what would they even do with it?) They didn't succeed in claiming it, but in January 1978, Emilio Marcos Palma made history as the first person ever born in Antarctica. If there are research facilities there, surely a residential community could exist, right?
Since Emilio Palma’s birth, only ten others have been born on the continent. Who knows what the future holds? If scientists are considering colonizing Mars, perhaps Antarctica could be the next frontier. It already has at least seven Christian churches, 40 airports, and even an ATM. Why not take the leap?
Fun fact: In order to work in Antarctica, you must have your wisdom teeth and appendix removed.
4. Mount Erebus
Antarctica has a little bit of everything, wouldn’t you agree? And guess what? It even has an active volcano! That would be Mount Erebus, which also features one of Earth’s few continuously active lava lakes. It’s the southernmost active volcano in the world. In fact, Antarctica is home to at least 138 volcanoes, and there may be even more lurking beneath the ice.
The continent is also home to a bizarre, famous waterfall that flows red! At first glance, it may look like blood running down the ice, but don't worry, it’s not. Antarctica is full of strange phenomena like this.
3. Time, Seasons, and Extreme Conditions
If you’re considering relocating to this frosty land, be prepared for temperatures that often dip below freezing. They can plunge to around –90 degrees Celsius (–130 °F). However, during the summer on the Antarctic Peninsula, temperatures can rise to 15 degrees Celsius (59 °F), though it’s typically still below freezing there as well.
Antarctica doesn't follow a standard time zone! Forget about checking the time. Even more unusual, its seasons are a complete paradox—the continent stays in darkness throughout the winter, while in the summer, the Sun never sets because of the Earth's tilt. Quite the experience for jet lag, don't you think?
But if you're a scientist fascinated by adaptation, Antarctica is your dream destination. In 2013, researchers discovered that emperor penguins keep their feet warm through a network of intertwined blood vessels. They can even regulate the blood flow to their feet to maintain a steady temperature. This is just one of many studies—what could yours uncover?
2. Melting
One thing's certain: we don’t want the ice in Antarctica to melt. If it did, we'd face catastrophic consequences. Unfortunately, due to climate change, the glaciers have already started to melt. This has even caused a slight gravitational shift in the region—who knows what else might happen?
Scientists warn that if all the ice in Antarctica were to melt, sea levels could rise by as much as 60 meters (200 ft). In fact, sea levels are already creeping upward globally, which has scientists concerned that we'll soon say farewell to places like New York, Florida, and the Caribbean. This is why it's essential to address and slow down climate change. In the not-too-distant future, Earth might just become a water world.
NASA has reported that Antarctica is warming at a staggering rate—about five times faster than the global average. This is... highly alarming.
1. Wildlife
Antarctica is the only place on Earth that lacks reptiles. Whether that’s a blessing or a curse depends on how you feel about icy, bitey creatures. While no one wants to encounter a creepy frozen spider, the idea of frozen geckos sounds adorable. Interestingly, there are 'spiders' in Antarctica, but don’t worry—they don’t bite. These sea spiders, which can grow as large as dinner plates, aren’t arachnids, and you'll be fine as long as you stay out of the water.
In general, Antarctica is home to a variety of wildlife, including seals, whales, fish, penguins, and several bird species. While no human populations live there naturally, the continent hosts a permanent community of researchers year-round.
In Lake Vostok, scientists have found microbes that indicate the creatures there survive in an ecosystem fueled by chemicals from rocks, rather than sunlight. The organisms are believed to obtain their minerals from the bedrock beneath them.
