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Antarctica Antarctica Last Updated: 05/08/2024 |
| Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth, situated almost entirely within the Antarctic Circle. It's the fifth-largest continent by land area, covering approximately 14 million square kilometers (5.4 million square miles), making it larger than Europe and almost twice the size of Australia. | |
| Despite its vast size, it's the least populated continent, with no permanent human inhabitants, although scientists and support staff from various countries reside there temporarily for research purposes. Antarctica is known for its extreme climate, with temperatures dropping as low as -80°C (-112°F) in winter. It's covered by a thick ice sheet, which holds about 60% of the world's fresh water. This ice sheet averages about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) in thickness but can be much thicker in certain regions. The continent is also home to the highest elevation on the continent, Vinson Massif, which reaches 4,892 meters (16,050 feet) above sea level. The Antarctic environment is incredibly harsh and inhospitable, with strong winds, icy conditions, and limited sunlight during the winter months. Despite this, Antarctica supports a variety of wildlife, including penguins, seals, whales, and various seabirds, which thrive in the nutrient-rich waters surrounding the continent. Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, which was established in 1959 to regulate human activity on the continent and preserve its environment for scientific research and peaceful purposes. The treaty prohibits military activities, nuclear testing, and mineral mining, and it promotes scientific cooperation among its signatory nations. Today, there are 54 countries that are party to the Antarctic Treaty, including major powers like the United States, Russia, China, and the United Kingdom. Scientific research in Antarctica covers a wide range of disciplines, including climate science, glaciology, biology, astronomy, and geology. Studies conducted on the continent provide valuable insights into global climate patterns, sea level rise, and the evolution of Earth's ecosystems. Antarctica also serves as a natural laboratory for testing technologies and conducting experiments in extreme environments. Tourism in Antarctica has grown in recent years, with adventurous travelers visiting the continent to experience its pristine wilderness and observe its unique wildlife. However, tourism is strictly regulated to minimize its impact on the fragile Antarctic environment. Overall, Antarctica is a continent of extremes, both in terms of its climate and its importance to scientific research and environmental conservation. As the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, understanding and protecting Antarctica's delicate ecosystem is of paramount importance for the future of our planet. | |
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Lhotse Place » Tourism Mt. Lhotse is connected to Everest via the South Col and is the fourth highest mountain in the world. The main summit is 8,516 m while Lhotse Middle (East) is 8,414 metres and Lhotse Shar is 8,383 metres. Very often, climbers making an attempt on Everest, go up the Lhotse to acclimatize. 16 views 💖 1 |
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K2 Place » Tourism K2, at 8,611 metres (28,251 ft) above sea level, is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest at 8,849 metres (29,032 ft). It lies in the Karakoram range, partially in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and partially in the China-administered Trans-Karakoram Tract in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang. 18 views 💖 1Asia |
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Cho Oyu Place » Tourism Mount Cho Oyu is the world’s sixth highest mountain. This is the westernmost major peak in the Khumbu Sub region along the Mahalangur range. Cho Oyu stands on the border between Nepal and China. The peak lies in the Mahalangur sub range of the Nepal Himalayas. It elevates to a height of 8,201 m or 26,906 feet. 13 views 💖 1Himalayas |
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Rocky Mountains Place » Tourism The Rocky Mountain region is one of the most topographically distinct and impressive parts of North America. The Rocky Mountains rise abruptly above the bordering regions, particularly on the east and northeast where they are flanked by plains, less so on the west and southwest where they are bounded by high plateaus. 17 views 💖 1North American Cordilleram |
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Makalu Place » Tourism Mt.Makalu is 20 km east of Everest in the Khumbu region and is the fifth highest moutain in the world. The mountain lies in the Makalu Barun National Park and is known for its perfect pyramid shape with four sharp ridges. 12 views 💖 1Asia |
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Kangchenjunga Place » Tourism Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world. It rises with an elevation of 8,586 m (28,169 ft) in a section of the Himalayas called Kangchenjunga Himal that is limited in the west by the Tamur River and in the east by the Teesta River. The Kangchenjunga Himal is located in eastern Nepal and Sikkim, India. 14 views 💖 1Himalayas |
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Sea of Azov Place » Tourism The Sea of Azov is an inland shelf sea in Eastern Europe connected to the Black Sea by the narrow (about 4 km (2.5 mi)) Strait of Kerch, and sometimes regarded as a northern extension of the Black Sea. The sea is bounded by Russia on the east, and by Ukraine on the northwest and southwest (the parts of Ukraine bordering the sea are currently under Russian occupation). 16 views 💖 1 |
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Ionian Sea Place » Tourism The Ionian Sea is located between the countries of Italy, Greece and Albania and forms part of the Mediterranean Sea. In the north, this sub-sea is separated from the Adriatic Sea by the Strait of Otranto. In the south it passes directly into the Libyan Sea. 16 views 💖 1Ionian Sea |
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Tyrrhenian Sea Place » Tourism The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy. It is named for the Tyrrhenian people, identified since the 6th century BC with the Etruscans of Italy. The sea is bordered by Corsica and Sardinia (to the west), the Italian peninsula the Tuscany Region, Lazio Region, Campania Region, Basilicata Region, and Calabria Region to the east, and Sicily (to the south). 17 views 💖 1Tyrrhenian Sea |
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Bashi Channel Place » Tourism The Bashi Channel is a waterway between Mavulis Island of the Philippines and Orchid Island of Taiwan. It is a part of the Luzon Strait between the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It is characterized by windy storms during the rainy period, which lasts from June to December. 16 views 💖 1Bashi Channel |