ANTARCTICAANTARCTICABY ANALEA LINDO

Seals and PenguinsSeals and PenguinsPenguins are birds that can swim but can’t fly. The male penguins guard the eggs for the Winter. Emperor penguins are the biggest penguins on Earth and they live in Antarctica.

In Antarctica there are many different types of seals. Crabeater seals eat krill, not crabs. Weddell seals are great divers and they make holes in the ice to breathe.

The JourneyThe JourneyThe icebreaker is nearly 95 metres long and there is lots of crew aboard the ship. If all of Antarctica’s ice melted the Earth’s ocean would rise by 65 metres flooding many cities.It is very cold and windy, and the temperature is dropping. There is only one sunrise and one sunset each year in the south Pole.

The ArrivalThe ArrivalDuring winter there are only a small number of expeditioners in Antarctica. In summer, when opportunities for research are greater,expedition numbers increase.

Geography and Geography and Natural HistoryNatural History

The area of Antarctica covers an area of more than 13 million square kilometres. There are two active volcanoes in Antarctica. Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia.

Ice, Ice and more IceIce, Ice and more Ice

Antarctica is covered by a dome-like ice sheet made of compacted snow and ice. The ice sheet is more than 4000 metres thick in places and literally weighs Antarctica down. Scientists have estimated that if the ice sheet was to melt, the rock beneath would rise by over 700 metres. Only about 2% of Antarctica’s land is free of ice.

Living in Antarctica Living in Antarctica

Despite the cold, people in Antarctica must protect their eyes and faces from the sunlight reflecting off the ice and snow. Some scientist use a special balloon to help gather information on the Antarctic climate.For the station to function, it needs engineers, carpenters, plumbers, mechanics, technicians, electricians, a doctor a chef, and a station leader.

Science and Science and AntarcticaAntarctica

Biologists study Antarctica’s marine, land and lake creatures. A few plants can grow in Antarctica’s harsh climate.