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Welcome to
Antarctica!
Fun Facts!
Where is Antarctica?
The Antarctic continent is located
over the geographic South Pole.
How big is Antarctica?
Antarctica is bigger than the United States!
Are there polar bears in Antarctica?
Contrary to
popular belief, there are no polar bears in
Antarctica. However, there are penguins,
seals, and whales.
When you are at the South Pole, is every direction
North?
Yes!
Take an imaginary trip to the South Pole or look at
a map, then you'll see that everything is North of
you!
How long is daylight and darkness in Antarctica?
It depends
on the season. In the summer, there is 24
hours of daylight. In the winter, there is 24
hours of darkness.
How can Antarctica be a desert? Aren't all
deserts hot?
Antarctica IS a
cold
desert. Deserts are defined about the amount
of precipitation, not the temperature. Because
Antarctica receives very little precipitation, it is
a desert.
How do you travel to Antarctica?
It is
difficult to travel to Antarctica because it is so
far away from where people live and the climate is
inhospitable. The sea ice is dangerous and
only specially made boats with "ice-strengthened"
hulls can be used. Where possible, military
planes (LC-130s, C-130s, or C-17s) are used.
How do you get around in Antarctica?
Scientists and support staff use airplanes,
helicopters, boats, snow mobiles, and track
vehicles.
Why is the American base at the South Pole
called Amundsen-Scott?
The Amundsen-Scott base at the South
Pole is named after the Norwegian (Amundsen) and
English (Scott) explorers who discovered the South
Pole
How is Antarctica different
from the Arctic?
Antarctica is solid land (a continent) that is
overlain by many kilometers of ice, and the Arctic
is composed of floating sea ice.
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