Places and Landscape in Modern World and Chances

Places and Landscape

1. No Permanent Residents Coldest Place on Earth No Time Zone

2. Penguin Paradise No Polar Bear Active Volcanoes

3. Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen a
Russian cartographers and photogrammetrists and explorer

4. John Davis ( c. 1550 – 29 December 1605) was one of the chief navigators of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

5. Nathaniel Brown Palmer was an American seal hunter, explorer, sailing captain, and ship designer. He gave his name to Palmer Land, Antarctica, which he explored in 1820 on his sloop Hero. He was born in Stonington, Connecticut, and was a descendant of Walter Palmer, one of the town's founders.

6. WHAT IS ANTARTICA? Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent, located around the South Pole. It is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent, with about 98% of its surface covered by ice. Despite its harsh environment, Antarctica plays a crucial role in the Earth’s climate system, influencing global weather patterns and ocean currents.

7. The continent is largely uninhabited, except for scientific research stations operated by various countries. Antarctica is governed by an international treaty that prohibits military activity and preserves the continent for peaceful research and environmental protection.

8. Antarctica is a unique and significant continent for several reasons. Here are some key points: Climate and Geography Ice and Sea Level Biodiversity Scientific Research Environmental Protection Tourism and Human Presence: Global Importance

9. Climate: Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth. Temperatures can plunge as low as -80°C (-112°F) during the winter, with summer temperatures ranging from -2°C to -20°C (28°F to -4°F) on the coast. The interior is even colder. It receives very little precipitation, technically making it a desert.

10. Geography: Antarctica is a vast ice-covered landmass surrounded by the Southern Ocean. The continent is divided into East Antarctica (larger, with a thick ice sheet) and West Antarctica (smaller and geologically more active). The Transantarctic Mountains divide the continent, and notable geographic features include the Antarctic Peninsula, Mount Vinson (its highest peak), and the Ross and Weddell Seas.

11. Ice: About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice, which holds about 60% of the world's fresh water. The ice sheet is over 4 km (2.5 miles) thick in some areas. There are significant ice shelves, like the Ross Ice Shelf and the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, which float on the ocean but are connected to the continent.

12. Sea Level: If the entire Antarctic ice sheet were to melt, global sea levels could rise by about 58 meters (190 feet). However, even partial melting, particularly from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, could significantly impact sea levels. Ongoing climate change has raised concerns about the stability of some of these ice sheets.

13. Ice: About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice, which holds about 60% of the world’s fresh water. The ice sheet is over 4 km (2.5 miles) thick in some areas. There are significant ice shelves, like the Ross Ice Shelf and the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, which float on the ocean but are connected to the continent. Flora and Fauna: Antarctica’s biodiversity is unique and adapted to extreme conditions. The continent supports minimal plant life, mostly limited to mosses, lichens, and algae. The fauna includes penguins (like the Emperor and Adelie penguins), seals (like Weddell and Leopard seals), and seabirds (such as the Antarctic petrel). The surrounding Southern Ocean is rich in marine life, including krill, which is crucial to the Antarctic food web, and whales.

14. Importance: Antarctica is a natural laboratory for scientific research, offering unique opportunities to study climate change, glaciology, astronomy, biology, and geology. The Antarctic Treaty System ensures that the continent is used for peaceful purposes and scientific research. Research stations, like McMurdo (USA) and Concordia (France/Italy), support international scientific efforts.

15. Antarctic Treaty System: The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 and entered into force in 1961, is an international agreement that governs the continent. It prohibits military activities, supports scientific collaboration, and protects the environment. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol) designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science” and bans mining activities.

16. Tourism: Although remote and challenging to access, Antarctica has seen a rise in tourism, particularly through cruises. Tourism is regulated under the Antarctic Treaty System to ensure that it does not harm the environment. Visitors typically explore the Antarctic

17. Human Presence: Around 1,000 to 5,000 people reside temporarily in Antarctica, mostly at research stations, depending on the season. There is no permanent population, and those who stay are usually scientists and support staff.

18. Antarctica plays a critical role in Earth’s climate system. Its ice sheets reflect sunlight, helping to regulate global temperatures. The Southern Ocean’s currents and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current are vital to ocean circulation, which impacts global weather patterns.