Antarctica:
A Fascinating Continent!

By Deb Slatterie

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate dictionary defines Antarctica as a "body of land around the S. Pole; a plateau covered by a great ice cap & mountain peaks".

Doesn't sound too inviting, does it? No wonder the only humans inhabiting this southernmost continent are scientific researchers. Tourists come to visit, too, but don't usually stay long. Let's take a look at the terrain and climate of this land of opposites to get an idea of what types of animal life could survive there.

Antarctica has two distinct types of topography - one consisting of permanent snow and ice, and the other consisting of land. Here can be found both huge glaciers, which account for about 70% of the earth's fresh water supply, and snow-covered mountains, on the one hand, and dry valleys, which receive very little precipitation annually, on the other hand. For that reason the valley areas have even been referred to as a desert, but in this case a polar desert! Such windy, barren terrain is not very hospitable to animal life, other than a few native species of insects, but the surrounding seas are quite a different story.

Bordered on the Northwest by the Atlantic Ocean, on the Northeast by the Indian Ocean, and on the South by the Pacific Ocean (sometimes referred to as a group by the name "Antarctic Ocean" or "Southern Ocean"), the continent sports coastlines rich in marine animals and birds, such as whales, seals, squid, octopus, penguins, albatrosses, petrels, zooplankton, krill, and many species of fish. Since the larger species feed on the smaller ones, there is no need to find nutrients on the continent, and they thrive. The rocky outcroppings along the coasts serve as shelves for protection and rest. Seals and whales were once targets of greedy hunters, but in view of the dwindling populations, and because of the damage caused by an oil spill in the area in the late 80s, there were laws enacted to protect the wildlife and the oceans they live in. Mining, military testing, and even sled dogs have been prohibited on the continent.

Today, perhaps the biggest threat to Antarctica's animal population is tourism. An estimated 7,000 tourists visit Antarctica every year, and at present rates, that number could double soon. Maybe the best way to explore this pristine area is to read about it, and watch TV shows and videos on the subject. In this way much can be learned much about Antarctica from the comfort (and warmth!) of home, while helping to protect a beautiful environment which harbours a surprising amount of wildlife.

Further Reading

• Map of Antarctica: Click on "World Atlas". When that page opens, click "Polar Regions" on the menu at the left. Two maps will open on one page. Click the white area of the right-hand map (South Pole) to get a closer view of Antarctica. To print the map, click "Printer Friendly Page" on the left.
• Take a virtual tour of Antarctica
• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

About the Author:

Deb Slatterie publishes ItsaWorld of Animals ezine covering habitats, endangered species, pet care, careers working with animals. Useful for teachers, students, homeschoolers and animal lovers everywhere. Deb Slatterie may be contacted by email at animalezine@mail.com.