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Background
Antarctica, which was originally part of the ancient super continent, Gondwanaland (Australia, Africa, South America and India), drifted south 200 million years ago picking up ice as it migrated to the bottom of the world.
- It's total land area is larger than Mexico and the United States combined.
- The average ice thickness is 7,090 feet. The depth at the South Pole is more than 9,500 feet.
- Contains over 90% of the world's ice and 70% of the world's fresh water.
- Mean annual temperature is -70 degrees F. The lowest recorded temperature of -126.8 degrees F, was set in 1982 at Vostok Station.
- Winds of 200 miles per hour have been recorded on the coast.
- Annual ice on McMurdo Sound can reach 120 inches thick (site of ice runways).
- During the austral summer (December/January) the sun never sets.
- During the austral winter (June/July) the sun never rises.
- Antarctica is a great desert and receives about one inch of precipitation per year.
- Blowing snow causes blizzards that reach heights of 1,000 feet and reduce visibility to zero for extended periods.
- There are no polar bears here. They inhabit the North Polar regions.
- Indigenous wildlife is limited. Two species of penguins are found in the McMurdo area, Adelie & Emperor; two
species of seals, Weddel & Leopard; Killer Whales (Orcas) and Minke Whales and Skua birds (related to sea gulls)
are also found.
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