Antarctica is the coldest continent. Antarctica’s record low temperature of –128.6 °F (–89.2 °C) was
recorded. A coat of snow covers the majority of its land. At its thickest point the ice sheet is 15,670 feet
(4,776 meters) deep—almost 3 miles (5 kilometers). It averages 7,000 to 8,000 feet (2,100 to 2,400
meters) thick, making Antarctica the continent with the highest mean elevation. This ice sheet holds 90
percent of the world’s ice and 70 percent of the Earth’s fresh water.
The severe climate has kept Antarctica nearly dead of life. Plants are limited almost entirely too primitive
types that are capable of surviving lengthy winter periods of total or near-total darkness during which
photosynthesis cannot take place. Living in Antarctica is not easy because of its severe cold weather and
small amounts of isolated food (other than penguins and seal).Many explorers like Ernest Shackleton,
James Cook, and Charles Wilkes have set records or attempted while exploring the alien land. To this day
many people walk the foreign land like scientists and daring tourists.
"Antarctica." Britannica School. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 28 May 2014.
<http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/272892>.
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/
Questions
1) Argue why it is impossible to live in Antarctica with no stations.
2) Compare living in Antarctica from living in The U.S.A.
3) Recall why the crew of the Endurance logically ate only seal and penguin meat.