Antarctic Region > Antarctica * > Geography
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| ANTARCTICA GEOGRAPHY STATS: |
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Area > A note
fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe |
Area > Comparative
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US |
Area > Comparative to US places
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US |
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Area > Land
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14,000,000 sq km
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[2nd of 236]
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Area > Note
fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe |
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Area > Total
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14,000,000 sq km
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[7th of 248]
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Climate
severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing |
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Coastline
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17,968 km
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[14th of 249]
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Elevation extremes > Highest point
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Vinson Massif 4,897 m |
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Elevation extremes > Lowest point
Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m |
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Geographic coordinates
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90 00 S, 0 00 E |
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Geography > Note
the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable |
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Land use > Arable land
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0 |
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[226th of 241]
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Land use > Other
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100 %
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[9th of 241]
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Land use > Permanent crops
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0 |
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[237th of 241]
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Location
continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle |
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Map references
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Antarctic Region |
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Maritime claims
Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 21 of 28 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes - international entry |
Natural hazards
katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf |
Natural resources
iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries |
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