The most striking fact about the Antarctic continent is its almost complete glaciation. One of the most defining characteristics of this frozen region is the tremendous ice mountains. The average temperature in Antarctica is -55°C, and the continent covers the entire area from the South Pole to the southern polar circle.
Unlike the Arctic region, Antarctica was only discovered in the nineteenth century. As it was located opposite the already discovered Arctic region it simply earned the name Antarctica. Today, Antarctica is a continent of its own and is covered by a massive ice sheet 2.8 miles thick in some areas. In addition, Antarctica is surrounded by immense ice fields, which are an enormous network of interconnected valleys with high peaks.
Antarctica is home to various species of penguins, seals, whales, and birds. The massive ice desert measures 14 million square kilometers but is still the second smallest of the planet’s continents at about twice the size of Australia. Other than various scientists that are almost always present in the area, Antarctica is the world’s only completely uninhabited continent.