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'''Antarctica''' is the southern most [[continent]], almost entirely south of the [[Antarctic Circle]]. The continent covers the [[south pole]]. It shares no land borders with any other country, being total surrounded by the [[Southern Ocean]]. As well as the mainland, Antarctica includes many near by Islands. The area is heavily, though not entirely, covered by ice. The continent covers 12,093,00 square kilometers, excluding sea ice sheets. This highest mountain is the Vinson Massif at 4,897 metres.  
{{Image|Antarctica.png|right|350px| Antarctica.}}


The [[United Nations]] has decreed that Antarctica should be free of exploitation and that it is neutral territory belonging to no one nation or state. However, several nations have laid claim to sections of the content. In many places these claims overlap.
'''Antarctica''' is the southernmost [[continent]] and is almost entirely south of the [[Antarctic Circle]]. The continent contains the [[South Pole]]. It shares no land borders with another country, being totally surrounded by the [[Southern Ocean]]. As well as the mainland, Antarctica includes many nearby Islands. The area is heavily, though not entirely, covered by ice. The continent covers 12,093,00 square kilometers, excluding sea ice sheets. The highest mountain in Antarctica is the Vinson Massif at 4,897 metres.  


Antarctica has no official resident population, as you cannot be a citizen of Antarctica. Many nations maintain research centers on Antarctica which are manned all year round. Because Antarctica is below the Antarctic circle, it enjoys midnight suns in summer. In contrast, the winters are permanently night. This makes overwintering in an Antarctica research center a dangerous occupation.
The [[The United Nations|United Nations]] has decreed that Antarctica should be free of exploitation and that it is neutral territory belonging to no one nation or state. However, several nations have laid claim to sections of the content. In many places these claims overlap.


[[James Cook]], the British sea Captain and Explorer, was the first to enter the Antarctica circle during his second voyage (1772-1775). He circumnavigated the continent but did not sight land, only sea ice. He observed rock debris in some icebergs, showing that land did exist under the ice. He is quoted to have said, "I make bold to declare that the world will derive no benefit from it."
Antarctica is not a state, it has  no citizens and hence no official resident population. Many nations maintain research centers on Antarctica which are manned all year round. Because Antarctica is south of the Antarctic Circle, it enjoys midnight suns in summer. In contrast, in winter it is dark all the time, so that wintering in an Antarctic research center is a dangerous occupation.


The Antarctic was not visited again until January 27, 1820 when Captain [[Thaddeus Bellingshausen]], a Russian, recorded a sighting of the continent. An American, Captain [[John Davis]] is credited as being the first person to land on Antarctica on Feburary 7th, 1821.
[[James Cook]], the British sea captain and explorer, was the first to enter the Antarctic Circle, during his second voyage (1772-1775). He circumnavigated the continent but did not sight land, only sea ice. He observed rock debris in some icebergs, showing that land did exist under the ice. He is quoted as saying, "I make bold to declare that the world will derive no benefit from it."


In the late 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Antarctica became the focus for several science expeditions. Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874–1922), the celebrated Anglo-Irish explorer, attempted to reach the South Pole with the Nimrod expedition(1907-09). He failed, but reached the furthest south of anyone to date; he received a hero's welcome upon his return to England and was immediately knighted.
The Antarctic was not visited again until January 27, 1820, when Captain [[Thaddeus Bellingshausen]], a Russian, recorded a sighting of the continent. An American, Captain [[John Davis]] is credited as being the first person to land on Antarctica on February 7th, 1821.


The first man to reach the [[Geographical South Pole]], in the heart of Antarctica, was  [[Roald Amundsen]], a Norwegian. He had previously been on several Arctic expeditions and was the first man to navigate and chart the [[North West Passage]] round the top of [[Canada]] and [[Alaska]]. His expedition reached the pole on the 14th of December 1911. Amundsen's achievements are often overshadowed by the story of [[Robert Falcon Scott|Captain Scot]], aka Scot of the Antarctic. Amundsen and Scot were in direct competition to reach the Pole fist. Amundsen pipped Scot to the post by just over a month. On the return journey, Scot was caught in a Blizzard and he and his companions died.
In the late 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Antarctica became the focus of several scientific expeditions. Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874–1922), the celebrated Anglo-Irish explorer, attempted to reach the South Pole with the Nimrod expedition (1907-09). He failed, but reached further south than anyone so far: he received a hero's welcome upon his return to England and was immediately knighted.


It has been in news recently for [[tourism]] hazards [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j8Jp3uuSp8DR2Y4fgRSWxm__SptAD8T5MHD00].  
The first man to reach the [[Geographical South Pole]], in the heart of Antarctica, was  [[Roald Amundsen]], a Norwegian. He had previously been on several Arctic expeditions and was the first man to navigate and chart the [[Northwest Passage]] round the top of [[Canada]] and [[Alaska (U.S. state)|Alaska]]. His expedition reached the Pole on the 14th of December 1911. Amundsen's achievements are often overshadowed by the story of [[Robert Falcon Scott|Captain Scott]], who was known as 'Scott of the Antarctic'. Amundsen and Scott were in direct competition to reach the Pole fist, Amundsen beating Scott by just over a month. On the return journey, Scott was caught in a blizzard and he and his companions died.[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
 
The visual treat [http://www.coolantarctica.com/] that it is often attracts more tourists, leading to a lot of [[environmental hazards]].
 
A virtual tour is available online [http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/vtour/] for the interested readers.  
 
A nice account of the activities there is available at [http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/1997/antpanel/4past.htm].
 
Numerous countries have established their research stations [http://members.eunet.at/castaway/stations/aa-bases.html] in Antarctica.
 
[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:Geography Workgroup]]

Latest revision as of 06:00, 11 July 2024

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(CC) Image: George Swan
Antarctica.

Antarctica is the southernmost continent and is almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle. The continent contains the South Pole. It shares no land borders with another country, being totally surrounded by the Southern Ocean. As well as the mainland, Antarctica includes many nearby Islands. The area is heavily, though not entirely, covered by ice. The continent covers 12,093,00 square kilometers, excluding sea ice sheets. The highest mountain in Antarctica is the Vinson Massif at 4,897 metres.

The United Nations has decreed that Antarctica should be free of exploitation and that it is neutral territory belonging to no one nation or state. However, several nations have laid claim to sections of the content. In many places these claims overlap.

Antarctica is not a state, it has no citizens and hence no official resident population. Many nations maintain research centers on Antarctica which are manned all year round. Because Antarctica is south of the Antarctic Circle, it enjoys midnight suns in summer. In contrast, in winter it is dark all the time, so that wintering in an Antarctic research center is a dangerous occupation.

James Cook, the British sea captain and explorer, was the first to enter the Antarctic Circle, during his second voyage (1772-1775). He circumnavigated the continent but did not sight land, only sea ice. He observed rock debris in some icebergs, showing that land did exist under the ice. He is quoted as saying, "I make bold to declare that the world will derive no benefit from it."

The Antarctic was not visited again until January 27, 1820, when Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen, a Russian, recorded a sighting of the continent. An American, Captain John Davis is credited as being the first person to land on Antarctica on February 7th, 1821.

In the late 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Antarctica became the focus of several scientific expeditions. Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874–1922), the celebrated Anglo-Irish explorer, attempted to reach the South Pole with the Nimrod expedition (1907-09). He failed, but reached further south than anyone so far: he received a hero's welcome upon his return to England and was immediately knighted.

The first man to reach the Geographical South Pole, in the heart of Antarctica, was Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian. He had previously been on several Arctic expeditions and was the first man to navigate and chart the Northwest Passage round the top of Canada and Alaska. His expedition reached the Pole on the 14th of December 1911. Amundsen's achievements are often overshadowed by the story of Captain Scott, who was known as 'Scott of the Antarctic'. Amundsen and Scott were in direct competition to reach the Pole fist, Amundsen beating Scott by just over a month. On the return journey, Scott was caught in a blizzard and he and his companions died.

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