Antarctica | Learn Facts about Antarctica for Kids

Summary

Discover Antarctica, the coldest continent on Earth, with its unique wildlife including penguins, seals, and krill. Learn about its status as the world's largest desert and the effects of its melting ice on sea levels. Explore the history of exploration, from James Cook to Roald Amundsen, and the Antarctic Treaty's commitment to peaceful scientific research and environmental protection.

Takeaways

• ❄️ Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth, even colder than the North Pole.
• 🌍 It is located at the Earth's southernmost point, south of Australia, South America, and Africa.
• 🐧 Only a few animals can survive in Antarctica, such as penguins, seals, and krill.
• 🌿 About 98% of Antarctica is covered in ice, with very few plants growing on the continent.
• 🌈 In summer, the snow in parts of Antarctica turns red, green, gray, or yellow due to snow algae.
• 🏜️ Antarctica is the largest desert in the world, receiving very little precipitation.
• 🗻 Antarctica contains about 90% of the Earth's ice, which if melted would raise sea levels by over 200 feet.
• 🌡️ The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was in Antarctica at -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 🌬️ Wind speeds in Antarctica can reach up to 200 miles per hour.
• 🔬 Many countries have research stations in Antarctica for scientific studies.

Q & A

Is Antarctica colder than the North Pole?

Yes, Antarctica is much colder than the North Pole.

What percentage of Antarctica is not covered in ice?

Only about 2 percent of Antarctica is not covered in ice.

What type of animals can survive the cold conditions in Antarctica?

Animals that can survive in Antarctica include several types of penguins, leopard or Weddle seals, killer whales or orcas, fish, and krill.

What do the seals, whales, and penguins primarily eat in Antarctica?

The seals, whales, and penguins primarily eat krill and fish.

Why are there so few plants in Antarctica?

There are very few plants in Antarctica because the cold climate prevents most from growing, though moss, non-marine algae, fungi, and bacteria do grow there.

What causes the snow in parts of Antarctica to turn red, green, gray, or yellow in the summer?

The snow turns these colors due to the presence of snow algae, an algae that can live in very cold temperatures.

Why is Antarctica considered the largest desert in the world?

Antarctica is considered the largest desert because it gets very little rain each year, even though it's covered in snow and ice.

How much of the Earth's ice is contained in Antarctica?

Antarctica contains about 90 percent of the ice on Earth.

What would happen if all the ice in Antarctica melted?

If all the ice in Antarctica melted, sea levels throughout the world would rise by over 200 feet.

What is the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth?

The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was in Antarctica at -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Who was the first person to reach the South Pole?

Roald Amundsen, a man from Norway, was the first person to reach the South Pole on December 14, 1911.

What is the Antarctic Treaty and what does it signify?

The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1961, states that Antarctica belongs to no single country and is to be used for peaceful purposes and scientific research. It also mandates that scientists share their research results with the countries that signed the treaty.