Antartica: The Coldest and Windiest Place on Earth

History

Antarctica was discovered in 1820. The first sighting was recorded by three individuals by the name of Favian Gotliev von Bellingshausen, a Russian Navy Captain; Edward Bansfield, a Royal Navy Captain; and Nathaniel Palmer, an American from Connecticut. It was Bellinghausen who first sighted land, followed by Bransfield and then Palmer. But the first landing on land was made by John Davis in Western Antarctica on February 7, 1821, although historians dispute this claim. In an expedition led by Ernest Shackleton in 1907 he discovered Mt. Erebus and was recorded as the first man to climb the mountain and to reach the South Magnetic Pole.

Geography

About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice sheet averaging at least 1.6 kilometers thick. The entire continent has about 90% of the world's ice. It is estimated that if all these ice will melt, the sea level of the world will rise by about 200 feet. Scientists are concerned that if these ice sheets were to break down or collapse, ocean levels will rise by several meters in a relatively short period of time.

Antarctica is home to many volcanoes but the most active is Mount Erebus on the Ross Island. Another famous volcano is Mount Deception Island which erupted in 1970.

.Other dormant volcanoes may potentially be active. Antarctica is also home to many lakes that are found thousand of meters under the surface of the ice sheet. The largest of these lakes is Lake Vostok which is believed to have been sealed off for 500 to one million years ago.

Geology

It is believed that Antarctica is part of the super continent known as Gondwana. Over a long period of time, this super continent broke apart that led to the formation of what is now known as Antarctica.

It is likewise believed that Australia along with New Zealand, Africa and India were once part of Antarctica and separated from the super continent more than 40 million years ago. Geological study of Antarctica is hindered by the fact that almost the entire continent is covered by very thick ice. It is believed that Antarctica, particularly the western portion, resembles that of the Andes mountain range of South America. Some minerals found in the area are coal and iron ore. Oil and natural gas are also found offshore but its exploitation is banned until 2048 by the protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.

Climate

Antarctica is the coldest place on earth. The place is extremely dry, with an average of only 166 mm precipitation per year. In most part of the continent, the snow never melts and is eventually compressed to become glacial ice that makes up the ice sheet. This place receives no more than 2 inches of rain in a year and because of this, Antarctica is classified as a desert.

Almost all of Antarctica is covered by ice with an average thickness of 1.6 kilometers. It contains 90% of all ice in the world.

Population

Antarctica is a lonely place to stay or settle down. The re no facilities or utilities that can support a modern community, no mall, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. There are no permanent residents in this continent. But research stations abound. Almost all developed countries in the world have their owned manned research stations in the area. Some are unmanned and are used only to monitor the weather in the whole continent. During summer time, there are some 4,000 people in the area mostly scientists, geologists and technical people representing varied technological fields. In winter time this number goes down to about 1,000 people.

The first child born in the southern polar region was a girl born in 1913. She was the daughter of Fridthjof Jacobsen, Assistant Manger of a whaling station. Her mother was Clara Jacobsen who arrived in 1904.

The other person born in the mainland area was Emilio Marcos Palma, a son of an Argentinean who was sent there by the Argentine government along with seven other families to find out if family life is suitable in the continent. In 1984, Juan Pablo Camacho was born in a Chilean Research station, becoming the first Chilean born in Antarctica. Today several bases are home to small families and children attending school in Research Stations.

Flora and Fauna

There are only two species of flowering plants found in Antarctica, the Antarctic Hair Grass and the Antarctic Pearlwort. The rest are lichens, bryophytes, algae and fungi.

A variety of marine animals are found in Antarctica. This includes seals, penguins, whales and orcas. Albatross and many other seabirds are also found in the area.

Government and Politics

Antarctica has no constituted government. It belongs to no country. Various countries laid claims on the continent but none is recognized. Antarctica is considered as a politically neutral continent. It is regulated by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty and other agreements collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System.

Among the many treaties in effect in Antarctica, the Madrid Protocol bans all mining activities in Antarctica and designating the continent as a "natural reserve devoted to peace and science."

The Antarctic Treaty also prohibits any military activity in Antarctica such as the setting up of military establishments in the area, testing of weapons, military maneuvers, etc. Military personnel or equipment are allowed only for peaceful and scientific purposes.