Antarctica

Area	14,000,000 km² (280,000 km² ice-free, 13,720,000 km² ice-covered)
Population	~1000 (none permanent)
Government	governed by the Antarctic Treaty System
Partial Territorial claims
Internet TLD	.aq
Calling Code	+672

Antarctica is the southernmost continent and encompasses the South Pole. Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean and divided by the Transantarctic Mountains. On average, it is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. At 14 million km², Antarctica is the third-smallest continent after Europe and Oceania and 98% of it is covered in ice. Because there is little precipitation, except at the coasts, the interior of the continent is technically the largest desert in the world. There are no permanent human residents and Antarctica has never had an indigenous population. Only cold-adapted plants and animals survive there, including penguins, fur seals, mosses, lichens, and many types of algae. The name "Antarctica" comes from the Greek ανταρκτικός (antarktikos), meaning "opposite the Arctic." | year=1940 | url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=%239514 | accessdate=12 February | accessyear=2006}}

Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ("Southern Land") date back to antiquity, the first confirmed sighting of the continent is commonly accepted to have occurred in 1820 by the Russian expedition of Mikhail Lazarev and Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. However, the continent remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment, lack of resources, and isolated location.

More on [ Antarctica ]

Antarctica: Voyage to the Frozen Continent

Antarctic Expeditions
Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:35:00 -0000
We are often asked what compels us to want to see Antarctica. The answer is simple, Antarctica is nature in its purest state; her power and beauty are at once humbling, confronting and exhilarating. Indeed Antarctica touches the soul like no other place on earth. The pace can be as fast as an ice wall cracking and tumbling into the sea or as slow as an advancing glacier.
Scuba Diving in Antarctica (What Equipment to Bring!)
Tue, 20 May 2008 03:38:00 -0000
Diving in Antarctica is truly an expedition in itself, every plunge into its icy waters is different than the previous one. There is no such thing as a "better dive location" because each year the ice and weather conditions change, which makes these underwater adventures so unpredictable.
Deception Island: Diving in a Restless Volcano
Sat, 19 May 2007 16:55:00 -0000
Diving beneath the icy waters of Deception Island is like entering an alien environment almost devoid of large marine life. Indeed, the most dominant species seemed to be millions of tiny Amphipods. Examine the fascinating history of this foreboding place and discover the rich diversity of life here. Finally, join the team as they plunge beneath the icy waters into the caldera of this restless volcano on a unique Scuba dive to document life below and above the surface.
Antarctica - Latest News
News headlines on Antarctica's Environment.
Antarctica: Crossing the Antarctic Circle (2005 Expedition)
Fri, 18 May 2007 16:55:00 -0000
Eco-Photo Explorers has once again returned from the end of the world. This time our adventure took us further south and through the Antarctic Circle. It has long held a fascination for explorers and adventurers the world over. Here we will describe our journey south to Ushuaia, Argentina and our experience diving in the Beagle Channel. Here, we explored lush kelp forests and observe giant King Crabs. The trip south to Antarctica took us across the turbulent Drake Passage and along the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula and through the ice-choked waters below the Antarctic Circle.
Antarctica Peninsula: 2003 Expedition
Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:00:00 -0000
Eco-Photo Explorers has completed probably the most exciting and demanding expedition we have ever undertaken. We have taken our first plunge into the icy waters of Antarctica. We have documented not only the marine life, but the animals that inhabit this forbidden and mysterious region.

New Zealand Herald - Antarctica

Cool cruise
newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:00:00 +1200
If you fancy seeing the spectacular sights of subantarctic islands from the luxury of one of the world's finest small cruise liners, then book on the Orion, an Australian purpose-built luxury expedition ship that will head into the...
Antarctica: Warm memories of ice (+photos)
newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:00:00 +1200
The Antarctic was in a rare good mood the morning we landed for the first time on its frozen shores. This loneliest, coldest, emptiest, least-hospitable place on earth has many moods, few of them amiable, and we sampled most during...
When the world stops
newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:00:00 +1200
I was in Lisbon, Portugal, at a dinner that my clients were holding in a large restaurant. "Come over here," Todd said. "I want to talk to you." It didn't occur to me that he was going to tell me my father had just died on the...
Former police commissioner Walton dies
newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:31:17 +1200
Former Police Commissioner Bob Walton, 86, died peacefully at his home in Wellington last night. Police Commissioner Howard Broad said Mr Walton saw policing through a tumultuous time during his tenure from 1978 to 1983, which...

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