 A satellite composite image of Antarctica Antarctica (from Greek ἀνταρκτικός, opposite the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earth's South Pole. It is the coldest place on earth and is almost entirely covered by ice. It is not to be confused with the Arctic, which is located near the Earth's North Pole on the opposite side of the planet.
Although legends and speculation about a Terra Australis ("Southern Land") go back to antiquity, the first commonly accepted sighting of the continent occurred in 1820 and the first verified landing in 1821. A 1513 map by Admiral Piri Reis, however, contains a southern continent that bears a possible resemblance to the Antarctic coast. (See also History of Antarctica).
Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in area, after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. However, it is by far the smallest in population: indeed, it has no permanent population at all. It is also the continent with the highest average altitude, and the lowest average humidity of any continent on Earth, as well as the lowest average temperature.
It has been assigned the Internet ccTLD .aq.
Antarctic Climate Main article: Climate of Antarctica. See-also: sea level rise.
Geography Main article: Geography of Antarctica
Subsidiary article: Extreme points of Antarctica
Territorial claims  Territorial claims of Antarctica Several nations, particularly those close to the continent, made territorial claims in the 20th century. These claims have little practical relevance due to the Antarctic Treaty which came into effect in 1961, but continue to be observed by cartographers.
Most countries that have observation or study facilities in Antarctica have those facilities within their claimed territory. The Antarctic Treaty defers these claims and most other nations do not recognize them. No other nations have made claims themselves, although the United States and Russia assert the right to do so.
No formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west.
Former claims
Population It is usually estimated that at a given time there are at least 1,000 people living in Antarctica. This varies strongly with season.
Antarctica has no permanent residents, but a number of governments maintain permanent research stations on the continent. Many of the stations are staffed around the year. These include:
- Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, South Pole (United States Antarctic Program)
- Bellingshausen Station, King George Island (62°11'47"S, 58°57'39"W) (Russia)
- Bernardo O'Higgins Station, Antarctic Peninsula, Chilean Army.
- Casey, Vincennes Bay (Australian Antarctic Division)
- Comandante Ferraz Station, King George Island (62¨08°S, 58¨40°W) Brazil
- Dakshin Gangotri Station, (Indian Antarctic Program)
- Davis, Princess Elizabeth Land (Australian Antarctic Division)
- Dumont d'Urville Station (66°40'S, 140°00'E) France
- Eduardo Frei Montalva Station and Villa Las Estrellas, King George Island, Chilean Air Force.
- General Artigas Station, (Uruguay)
- Georg von Neumayer Station, (70°39'S, 08°15'W) (Atka-Bay) (Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany)
- Halley Research Station (75°35' S, 26°34' W) British Antarctic Survey
- Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station (62°10' S, 058°28' W), King George Island, Poland
- Maitri Station, (70°45.58' S, 11°43.56' E) near Schirmacher Region (Indian Antarctic Program)
- Marambio Station, Seymour-Marambio Island (Argentina) website (http://www.marambio.aq)
- McMurdo Station, Ross Island (U.S.)
- Macquarie Island (Australian Antarctic Division)
- Mawson, Mac Robertson Land (Australian Antarctic Division)
- Mirny Station (66°33'07"S, 93°00'53"E) (Russia)
- Mizuho Station (70°41'S, 44°19'E) (National Institute of Polar Research, Japan)
- Molodezhnaya Station (67°40'18"S, 45°51'21"E) (Russia)
- Novolazarevskaya Station, Dronning Maud Land (70°46'26"S, 11°51'54"E) (Russia)
- Palmer Station, Anvers Island (U.S.)
- Progress Station (69°22'44"S, 76°23'13"E) (Russia)
- Rothera Research Station (67°34' S, 68°08' W) British Antarctic Survey
- SANAE (South African National Antarctic Expeditions), on the Fimbul Coastal Ice Shelf in Queen Maud Land
- Scott Base, Ross Island (New Zealand)
- Showa Station (66°00'S, 39°35'E) (National Institute of Polar Research, Japan)
- Vostok, Antarctica (78 28'S and 106 48'E) (Russia)
Emilio Marcos Palma was the first person born in Antarctica, his mother having been sent there by the Argentinian government to give birth.
Literature set in Antarctica
Military The Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature in Antarctica, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military manoeuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon. It permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes.
The United States military issues the Antarctica Service Medal to those members of the military who perform research duty on the Antarctica continent.
See also
External links
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