1. What is the southernmost research station in Antarctica?
Answer: Amundsen-Scott Station
Amundsen-Scott station is the closest station to the Geographic South Pole, only 0.3 km (0.2 miles) away!
2. What is the surface terrain of Antarctica?
Answer: A large ice sheet
Antarctica is close to being entirely covered by an ice sheet, and beneath it is a landscape of valleys, mountains and plains.
3. What is the area of Antarctica?
Answer: 14.2 M sq km (5.5 M sq mi)
Antarctica is 14.2 M sq km (5.5 M sq mi). It is smaller than Russia, as Russia is about 17 M sq km! About 98% of the land is a large ice sheet!
4. Who was the first person to reach the South Pole?
Answer: Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen was the first person to reach the South Pole, in 1911. Robert Falcon Scott was the second, five weeks later.
5. What was the coldest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica?
(It's the coldest in the world ever)
Answer: -89.2°C (-128.6°F)
It was recorded in Vostok, Antarctica in 1912. The previous record was also made near Vostok, at -88.3°C (-126.94°F).
6. What are the seven countries that claim parts of Antarctica?
Answer: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom
The countries that claim parts of Antarctica are; Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. There is one unclaimed part though, Marie Byrd Land. Argentina, Chile, and the UK's claims overlap, causing tension between the three.
7. What are the two plants that grow on Antarctica's land?
I know, you would've gone no plants. But this is true. Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort are extremely resistant to freezing temperatures. Antarctic pearlwort uses wind for pollination, as there are no bees to help.
8. What is the highest point in Antarctica?
Answer: Mount Vinson Peak
Mount Vinson Peak is 4,892 meters (16,050 feet) tall, towering above Antarctica. Antarctica has the highest average elevation of any continent, at 2,500 m.
9. Is Antarctica a desert?
Answer: Yes
Antarctica is a desert, as extremely low precipitation happens there. Some parts of Antarctica have had no rain or snow for 2 million years!
10. Does Antarctica have an official flag?
Answer: No
Antarctica does not have an official flag. The most common flag in use is Graham Bartram's proposal, based on the UN's flag.
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