Antarctica - Wikipedia Most of Antarctica is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, with an average thickness of 1 9 km (1 2 mi) Antarctica is, on average, the coldest, driest, and windiest of the continents, and has the highest average elevation It is mainly a polar desert, with annual precipitation of over 200 mm (8 in) along the coast and far less inland
Antarctic - Wikipedia Because Antarctica surrounds the South Pole, it is theoretically located in all time zones For practical purposes, time zones are usually based on territorial claims or the time zone of a station's owner country or supply base
Antarctica - National Geographic Society Antarctica is the only continent with no permanent human habitation There are, however, permanent human settlements, where scientists and support staff live for part of the year on a rotating basis
Frequently Asked Questions About Antarctica - NASA NASA uses satellites to study the ice on Antarctica and how the continent is changing Scientists want to know how changes in Earth’s climate are affecting Antarctica’s ice sheets
What Is Antarctica? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids Though Antarctica is really, really chilly, it is considered a desert because it receives very little rain or snowfall The small amount of snow that does fall does not melt but builds up over hundreds and thousands of years to form large, thick ice sheets
Antarctica: Facts, History, Treaty Travel Guide Antarctica explained—fast facts, record cold, ice trends, wildlife, and how the Antarctic Treaty protects a continent devoted to peace and science