10 Words you associate with the country mentioned

@ komentator isenk

But we already had Kenya. Are we doing it again?

Anctarctica!!!!!!

2. 42 countries have research stations in Anctarctica (A report from Ocean Expeditions, a different agency says that there are only 29 countries represented but I put the Wikipedia map that is more beautiful).


Multiple governments have set up permanent research stations in Antarctica and these bases are widely distributed. Unlike the drifting ice stations set up in the Arctic, the research stations of the Antarctic are constructed either on rocks or on ice that are (for practical purposes) fixed in places.

Many of the stations are staffed throughout the year. A total of 42 countries (as of October 2006), all signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, operate seasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent. The population of people performing and supporting scientific research on the continent and nearby islands varies from approximately 4,000 during the summer season to 1,000 during winter (June). In addition to these permanent stations, approximately 30 field camps are established each summer to support specific projects.

All white and the map is taken from Wikipedia

4. Antarctica used to be as warm as Melbourne

Given that the coldest ever land temperature was recorded in Antarctica of -89.2°C (-128.6°F), it can be hard to imagine Antarctica as a warm, temperate paradise. But Antarctica hasn’t always been an icy land locked in the grip of a massive ice sheet. In fact, Antarctica was once almost as warm as Melbourne is today.

Researchers have estimated that 40-50 million years ago, temperatures across Antarctica reached up to 17°C (62.6°F). Scientists have also found fossils showing that Antarctica was once covered with verdant green forests and inhabited by dinosaurs!

6. The Initial Antarctic Dinosaur Discoveries
In 1990-91, scientists made the first discoveries of dinosaur fossils in the central Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica. A site on Mt. Kirkpatrick, near the Beardmore Glacier, yielded the bones of Cryolophosaurus ellioti, a species wholly new to science. Alongside this specimen were the bones of a pterosaur (flying reptile), a tritylodont (mammal-like reptile), and another dinosaur later recognized as the new species Glacialisaurus hammeri.

All proved to be unique to Antarctica—evidence that by this point in time, barriers were preventing populations from exchanging genes across Pangaea. Additional excavations in 2003 on Mt. Kirkpatrick uncovered more bones of Cryolophosaurus at the original site, and bones of another Glacialisaurus (or perhaps a new dinosaur species) at a new site. Storms cut short the excavations of these quarries, leading to plans for the 2010-11 expedition.

All the white is taken from https://expeditions.fieldmuseum.org/antarctic-dinosaurs/antarctic-fossils

This diamond dust is presented when Yoon Hee is in Japan in Love rain. It is a beautiful scene like all the drama.

9. Antarctica is the largest desert on earth, almost twice the size of the Sahara Desert. 

When most people imagine Antarctica they think of a cold continent covered in ice. And they’re right. In fact, 90% of the world’s freshwater is locked up in Antarctica’s permanent ice sheet. By contrast, the idea of the desert usually conjures images of rippled sand dunes and the shimmering heat of the Sahara. So how is it possible that a cold, ice-covered continent like Antarctica is a desert?

Why is Antarctica a desert?

A desert is defined by the amount of precipitation (rain, snow, mist and fog) in an area. A region that receives very little precipitation (the exact amount depends on who you ask) is classified as a desert. There are many types of deserts, including subtropical, coastal and polar deserts. What they all have in common is a barren, windswept landscape, which makes it difficult for plants and animals alike to gain a foothold on land. This all certainly applies to Antarctica.

The average yearly rainfall at the South Pole over the past 30 years was a tiny 10 mm (0.4 in). Most of the continent is covered by ice fields carved by the wind, and craggy mountains covered in glaciers. While Antarctica is home to wonderful forests of low-lying mosses and lichens, there are only two flowering plants that can survive the harsh conditions. And most of the animals we encounter – penguins, seals, whales and seabirds – rely on seafood for sustenance.

Is there a desert in Antarctica, or is Antarctica a desert?

While most deserts only cover part of a continent, the Antarctic Polar Desert spans the whole of Antarctica. It snows and rains on the coastal Antarctic Peninsula, but in the McMurdo Dry Valleys in East Antarctica, it never rains. In fact, scientists believe that in some parts of the Dry Valleys it hasn’t snowed or rained for 14 million years! So although the coast sees some precipitation, the average across the continent is low enough to classify all of Antarctica as a polar desert.

How much of Antarctica is covered in ice?

Approximately 98% of the Antarctic continent is covered by a permanent ice sheet. This beautiful and wild expanse of ice covers an incredible 14 million km² (5.4 million square miles). That’s about the same area as the United States and Mexico combined!

At its deepest, Antarctica’s ice is 4.5km (2.7 miles) thick. If it melted, global sea levels would rise about 60 m (200 ft). That’s a lot of ice. And due to Antarctica’s desert conditions, it has taken an impressive 45 million years for it to grow to its current thickness.

How much precipitation does Antarctica receive annually?

The interior is very dry and rarely sees clouds. Here, the annual precipitation averages around 50 mm (1.9 in), and most of this falls as snow or ice crystals. This gives rise to some of the most ethereal weather conditions you can see on earth including frost flowers, solar haloes and polar stratospheric clouds.

By contrast, the coast has a maritime climate influenced by the ocean and it’s quite common to see low clouds and mist clinging to the craggy mountains. The Antarctic coastline can receive more than 200 mm (7.8 in) of precipitation each year.

On the Antarctic Peninsula, which travellers can visit in the summer months, it’s quite possible to see snow, rain and sunshine in one day. Some northern parts of the Antarctic Peninsula receive 500 mm (19.7 in) between October and March, and on nearby subantarctic islands this can double, with 1000 mm (39.4 in) each year! That’s why we make sure that everyone on our voyages has a top notch, complimentary polar expedition jacket. These jackets are water and wind-resistant, so you’ll be protected from the elements whatever the weather. https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/blog/is-antarctica-a-desert/

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