Today, we will discuss the Top 5 Facts About Antarctica, the coldest continent on Earth. It’s truly unlike any other place in the whole world. Talking about space, Antarctica covers an area of 14.2 million km². Whenever we hear of this place, we take a picture of lots of penguins walking on the snow land. Isn’t it so? The place has never failed to amuse people with its peaceful beauty and snowy land!
Despite knowing so much about Antarctica, there are certain facts that you are surely not aware of. Here is what we know!
Top 5 Facts About Antarctica
1. Used to have a similar temperature to Melbourne
When it comes to Antarctica, we do make a picture of a cold place. Now, the coldest ever land temperature in this place has been minus 89.2°C. It can be understood how difficult it is to imagine this continent as a warm paradise, like Melbourne. But, that’s true. It hasn’t always been a land covered with thick ice. Little did you know, 45 million years ago, Antarctica has a record temperature that reached 17°C. Moreover, earlier, it used to be covered with green forests and also there was the existence of dinosaurs.
2. It’s a desert
Talking about a desert, we can only think of dunes and sizzling hot temperatures. But, that’s not always true. It depends on how much precipitation the place receives in the form of snow, fog or rainfall. The less it is, the more we call it a desert. Similarly, Antarctica is one of those places. Even though it is covered with thick ice and snow, it has taken millions of years to form its current state. The major reason is, that Antarctica receives very less rainfall compared to the others.
3. No existence of plants
Can you imagine a place without any trees or shrubs? Well, Antarctica is one. Only a couple of flowering plants grow in the place and those are- Antarctic Hairgrass and the Antarctic Pearlwort.
4. Presence of Active Volcanoes
Antarctica is such a continent which has the most number of volcanoes, out of which a couple of them are badly active. Mount Erebus is the southernmost active volcano in the world, located on Ross Island. It has a few unique features such as ice fumaroles and twisted ice statues that form around gases seeping from the vents near the volcanic crater.
5. Presence of Anti-Freeze Proteins in Fishes
One of the most unique facts is this. Without the presence of ‘anti-freeze’ proteins in the blood of Antarctica fishes, they would get frozen in the polar ocean. Thus, it helps them to stay life.
How of the above mentioned Antarctica facts did you already know?
