Antarctica
Use the titles of each section and match it with the titles on your handout to complete your travel brochure about Antarctica.
The 1911 Race to the South Pole
Who was racing? What was the goal? Who won, and when did he arrive in Antarctica? How is the race remembered?
Roald Amundsen
In the early 1900s, there was a race to see who could get to the South Pole first. On December 14, 1911, Norwegian explorer (from Norway) Roald Amundsen and his four-man team became the first people to reach the South Pole, where they raised the Norwegian flag in victory. Amundsen beat his rival, British explorer Robert Flacon Scott, by five weeks. On March 8, 1912, after learning of Amundsen's successful expedition, The New York Times wrote: "The whole world has now been discovered."
Amundsen was one of the world’s most notable polar explorers. In 1903, he became the first to make a ship voyage through the Northwest Passage, the sea route through the Arctic Ocean on the northern coast of North America. Amundsen had also made secret plans for a South Pole expedition. At the time, the South Pole was considered to be the last great, undiscovered territory.
To mark his victory in reaching Antarctica, Amundsen left Norway’s flag and a letter addressed to the King of Norway detailing his accomplishment. On the one hundred year anniversary of Amundsen’s victory, Norway’s prime minister took time to remember the British explorer, too. "Scott and his men will forever be remembered for their valor (courage) and their determination to reach the most inhospitable (unwelcoming) place on Earth," Stoltenberg said. To honor their race, today the the research station now located at the South Pole was named after the two explorers: the Amundsen-Scott Station.
Amundsen leaving Norway's flag on Antarctica
Life in Antarctica
What type of government do they have? How many people permanently live there? What is the weather/climate like? What are at least 5 nationalities of people there? Which continent is closest to Antarctica?
Antarctica is different from every other continent on earth because its population is zero! No humans permanently live there, though scientists from around the globe travel to Antarctica to study its unique characteristics. After the 1911 Race to Antarctica, many countries started traveling south to colonize the last continent. However, instead of looking for resources, the countries wanted to colonize Antarctica for scientific research.
Flags of the Antarctic Treaty nations
These scientific investigations truly began in 1957, with an event called the International Geophysical Year. In 1957, twelve different countries agreed to share access to Antarctica, paving the way for 35 individual scientific research stations. That first year was such a success that the twelve countries decided to continue their joint scientific research. Those nations were: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA and the USSR (Russia today). The twelve original countries signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1959 to agree to peaceful scientific exploration and ban any resource mining from the continent. The Treaty has been updated since then to include even more countries.
Today, there are 29 nations with claims to Antarctica. They meet for about two weeks each year to make decisions about the continent. Because so many different countries are working together, Antarctica's government is an international confederation. The member nations take turns hosting this meeting. Over the last six years, three of the meetings have taken place in South America. Can you guess why? It's because South America is actually the closest continent to Antarctica! Argentina is just 620 miles away from Antarctica, so many researchers venture south from there.
Scientists who spend months at a time doing research in Antarctica brave some extreme weather. As well as being the coldest place on Earth, Antarctica is the windiest. The coast of Antarctica is much windier than in the heart of the continent. On the coast, storm-force winds of almost 200 miles per hour have been recorded, the strongest winds anywhere, ever! The climate is also very dry in Antarctica, it hardly ever rains. So, weirdly, Antarctica is in fact a ‘desert’. All the moisture here is frozen: even the sea is icy. Special boats have to be used to move through the water, called ice-breakers. Although it’s a desert, three-quarters of the world’s fresh water is found right here.
The South Pole
Antarctica's Unique Wildlife
What are two facts about Emperor Penguins and Wedell Seals?
Emperor penguins are the largest of all penguins—an average bird stands some 45 inches tall. These flightless animals live on the Antarctic ice and in the frigid surrounding waters.
They huddle together to escape wind and conserve warmth. Individuals take turns moving to the group's protected and relatively toasty interior. Once a penguin has warmed a bit it will move to the perimeter of the group so that others can enjoy protection from the icy elements.
Emperor penguins spend the long winter on the open ice and even breed during this harsh season. Females lay a single egg and then promptly leave it behind. They undertake an extended hunting trip to feed on fish, squid, and krill. At sea, emperor penguins can dive deeper than any other bird and stay underwater for more than 20 minutes.
Male emperors keep the newly laid eggs warm, but they do not sit on them, as many other birds do. Males stand and protect their eggs from the elements by balancing them on their feet and covering them with feathered skin known as a brood pouch. During this two-month bout of babysitting the males eat nothing and are at the mercy of the Antarctic elements.
Weddell seals spend much of their time below the Antarctic ice. They have the southernmost range of any seal, but find the chilly waters full of the prey they seek. These seals do not migrate often and are commonly found within a few miles of their birthplace.
By swimming under the ice, these seals can often avoid their main predators: orcas and leopard seals. The environment helps them fish as well. When feeding below the ice, they may dive beneath their prey. Weddell seals can also use air to collect a meal. They have been known to blow air into cracks in the ice. The surprise tactic puts small fish to flight, which the seal then devours.
Weddell seals can dive up to 2,000 feet down and stay under for up to 45 minutes. But no matter how deep they dive, like all marine mammals, they must surface to breathe. If natural openings are not available, Weddell seals use their teeth to open and maintain air holes in the ice pack.
Weddell seals are very vocal. Their calls can be heard from atop the ice even when seals themselves are below. The seals "haul out" onto the ice to rest, molt, or give birth. Females usually have one pup in September or October. These young are silver or golden (their parents are gray) and can swim by two weeks of age.
Scientific Stations
What do scientists who visit Antarctica study?
Scientists from all over the world visit Antarctica to study the climate, weather, geology, and wildlife of this unique region. Their research has helped to highlight global problems, such as climate change. During the summer, about 3,700 scientists work in the 46 or more scientific research stations scattered across the continent. Only about 1,200 scientists remain in winter because of the intense cold.
Due to the climatic extremes and isolation, Antarctica is easily one of the most untouched regions on the earth. This makes it extremely valuable for all types of scientific research, but especially those involving climate change, how the earth has warmed or cooled over millions of years.
Antarctica is of particular value to astronomers, people who study the stars and space. The South Pole is one of the best places on earth for viewing stars and scientists there are able to take advantage of the location and atmosphere to obtain valuable scientific data. Antarctica is also the best place in the world to find meteorites because dark meteorites show up well in the snow and ice and there is no vegetation to cover them up.
Another key research field is geology, the study of the earth. By studying geological evidence, scientists have been able to determine that Antarctica at one time had a temperate climate, meaning it used to be much warmer. The information that is hidden under the ice in Antarctica will continue to be retrieved and studied for generations to come.
Things to See and Do as a Tourist
Draw and describe three activities tourists can do in Antarctica?
Watch the video or read about the tourist activities below the video to complete your brochure.
Brush up on your Antarctic history
Antarctica was the scene of intense rivalry between some of the world’s greatest polar explorers such as Earnest Shackleton and Robert Scott. Brave visitors can follow in their footsteps in Antarctica, though reading about their endeavors from aboard your boat is a far more comfortable way to learn about these great men.
Climb Observation Hill
Observation Hill, a 30-minute ascent from nearby McMurdo, awards intrepid travelers with magnificent views of Mount Erebus and the Ross Ice Shelf, plus the 'Royal Societies' range across the ice. You will also find here the Memorial Cross erected in honor of Captain Robert Scott and his polar party.
Hop in a helicopter for a bird’s eye view
If you’ve got the cash then hire a chopper and get a bird’s eye view of polar animals (including penguins and albatrosses) in their natural environment. Though expensive for most Antarctic explorers, helicopters offer the best access to the continent’s emperor penguin colonies.
Kayak around icebergs
For an even closer view of the glistening blue-tinted ice of Antarctica, hop in a kayak and go for a paddle. If the weather permits you may even be able to camp on the ice. Kayaking and camping trips are offered as part of some expedition voyages.
Run the Antarctica Marathon
Hardcore runners can test their mettle in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, by signing up to the Antarctica Marathon on King George Island. Participants must brave sub-zero temperatures and biting winds as they complete the course. For those less brave, there’s also a half-marathon.
Send a postcard from Port Lockroy
Impress your friends by sending them a postcard from the only post office in Antarctica, at Port Lockroy, which used to be a British station and is now a museum to early Antarctic exploration. It is one of Antarctica's most popular attractions, designated as Historic Site Number 61 under the Antarctic Treaty.
