Antarctica

:For the Kim Stanley Robinson novel see Antarctica (novel)

Related Topics:
Kim Stanley Robinson - Antarctica (novel)

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:"Antarctic" redirects here; see also Antarctic Circle

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Antarctica (from Greek ἀνταρκτικός, "opposite the Arctic"; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a continent surrounding the Earth's South Pole. It is the coldest place on earth and is almost entirely covered by ice. It is not to be confused with the Arctic, which is located near the Earth's North Pole on the opposite side of the planet.

Related Topics:
Greek - Arctic - List of traditional Greek place names - Continent - Earth - South Pole - Coldest place on earth - Ice - North Pole

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Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ("Southern Land") go back to antiquity, the first commonly accepted sighting of the continent occurred in 1820 and the first verified landing in 1821 by the Russian expedition of Mikhail Lazarev and Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. (See also History of Antarctica.)

Related Topics:
Terra Australis - Mikhail Lazarev - Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen - History of Antarctica

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With an area of 13,200,000 km², Antarctica is the fifth largest continent, after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. However, it is by far the smallest in population: indeed, it has no permanent population at all. It is also the continent with the highest average altitude, and the lowest average humidity of any continent on Earth, as well as the lowest average temperature.

Related Topics:
Area - Asia - Africa - North America - South America - Population - Altitude - Humidity

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Internet - CcTLD - .aq

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