About Antarctica
Antarctica is a continent surrounded by the Southern Ocean. A thick ice sheet covers nearly all of its land, storing most of Earth's freshwater ice. No country has a normal permanent civilian population there, but scientists live at research stations.
A Frozen Continent
Antarctica is land covered by ice.
Learn MoreIce Sheet
The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest mass of ice on Earth.
Learn MoreMountains
Mountain ranges rise through the ice.
Learn MoreDry Valleys
Some Antarctic valleys receive so little snow that exposed ground remains visible.
Learn MoreResearch Stations
Countries operate scientific stations across Antarctica.
Learn MorePenguins
Several penguin species breed in Antarctica or nearby islands.
Learn MoreAntarctic Treaty
International agreements reserve Antarctica mainly for peaceful and scientific use.
Learn MoreSouthern Ocean
The Southern Ocean strongly influences global climate.
Learn MoreA Frozen Continent
This makes it fundamentally different from the Arctic, where the North Pole sits on ocean.
Ice Sheet
In places it is several kilometers thick.
Mountains
The Transantarctic Mountains divide East and West Antarctica, while buried landscapes lie beneath the ice sheet.
Dry Valleys
These cold desert environments are among Earth's driest places.
Research Stations
Researchers study climate, astronomy, geology, biology, oceans, ice, and the atmosphere.
Penguins
Emperor penguins remain on the continent through winter, while other species concentrate around coastal areas.
Antarctic Treaty
The treaty system also addresses environmental protection and cooperation.
Southern Ocean
Its powerful current circles Antarctica and helps connect major ocean basins.