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Antarctica
The name Antarctica is a Latinized version of a Greek word. The Greek word antarktike simply means "opposite the Arctic." The word Arctic is also Greek in origin, meaning "near the bear," which is a reference to the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear) or Ursa Minor (the Little Bear), two constellations that are in the far north, Ursa Minor even including Polaris, the North Star. The name Antarctica to refer to the land mass only came into common use in the 1890s.
Introduction:
Antarctica is the world's most natural continent as this island has rarely been touched for thousands of years. People have only arrived to this ice continent in the past 100 years and since that time little progress has been made in spreading their influence, although many countries have set up research stations and exploration trips to the land of ice.
The continent is also being heavily affected by global warming as the glaciers, ice, and snow on Antarctica have been slowly melting into the ocean. This is affecting not only Antarctica and the wildlife present on and around the island, but also the entire world as water levels are slowly on the rise.
Name: Antarctica
Independence: Antarctic Treaty signed December 1,
1959 (in force June 23, 1961)
Capital: None
Currency: None
Population: About 1,100 (winter) to 4,400 (summer)
Ethnicity: Multiple
Language: Multiple
Religion: Multiple
Although Antarctica is changing in many ways, this continent has done little to alter itself as the island is nearly isolated. The continent is, and always has been dominated by the wildlife on the island as well as in the nearby seas. Many animals found here can be found nowhere else in the world or are rarely found elsewhere, while many of the birds and sea life seasonally migrate.
The culture of the continent is lacking as few people live on Antarctica and most who do are seasonal scientists from numerous countries. These people continue on their traditional cultures from their home countries, but the lifestyle in Antarctica is vastly different than it is elsewhere. Freezing temperatures and winds mean most time is spent in doors. The sun also affects the lifestyle as the continent experiences 24 hours of daylight during their summers and 24 hours of darkness during their winters. For most visitors to Antarctica today, the trip begins and ends on a cruise ship during these long summer months when visitors can disembark to the land to see penguins or glaciers before continuing on their journey.
Learn More About Antarctica:
Map of Antarctica:
Information for Antarctica was last updated: March, 2012 ● View our: Sources & Special Thanks