Monday, January 30, 2012

Antarctic Sound, Antarctica


 Geography: Continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

Currency:  None



National Symbol: None

National Anthem: None

Language:  None

Area Comparison: Slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Distance from Pittsburgh:  12,335km or  7,664miles

Terrain: The landscape is about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters and mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters! Ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound. 

Highest Point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m

Weather You Should Expect: Severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean. East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation whereas the Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate. Higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing!!! 

What You Must See: Floating ice, iceburgs

Historical Fact: Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands or an area of ocean.

Science Trivia: In 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the Antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers. Researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an Antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin.

Interesting Fact: Glaciers form ice shelves a
long about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent

Fun Fact: The lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the Bentley Subglacial Trench at 2,540m below sea level. At its surface, it is the deepest ice discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater

More crazy facts: Antartica is  the coldest, windiest,  and driest continent. During the summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period!!  Also it is mostly uninhabitable!

Everything You Need to Know About the Flag: There is NO Flag!!

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