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Antarctica

 

            The land of Antarctica is very different to other continents. The total area of Antarctica is 14 million sq km, which is almost 1.5 times the size of the US makes it the 5th largest continent in the world. About 280000 sq km of the land is ice-free and rest is under ice. The coordinates of Antarctica are 90 00 S, 0 00 E. the coastline of Antarctica is around 17968 km long. The temperature of Antarctica varies due to elevation and where the place is on the lines of latitude. East Antarctica compared to west Antarctica is colder because it has higher elevation. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest place on Earth. The warmest temperature on Antarctica is slightly below 0°C which occurs in January. During winter the land of Antarctica can double in size. Antarctica is made up of about 98% ice sheet and 2% barren rock. The elevations on Antarctica vary from 2000 to 4000 metres and the mountain ranges go up to 5000 metres. The ice-free parts of Antarctica include southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound. The lowest point on Antarctica is the Bentley Subglacial Trench which is 2555 metres below sea level and it contains the deepest ice yet discovered and it is the world's lowest elevation not under sea water. The highest point on Antarctica is the Vinson Massif that is 4897 metres above sea level. The natural resources found on and near Antarctica are iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons, krill, finfish, crab, whales, seals, and penguins.
             Antarctica has been thought to be the only place not to be polluted and disturbed by humans. Well this is not true due to more than a hundred years ago, the human race has already started going and landing on Antarctica, but there weren't only footprints left and photos taken. The soil of Antarctica was contaminated, sewage was discharged into the sea and rubbish was left there.


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