Most of Antarctica is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, with an average thickness of 1.9 km (1.2 mi). Antarctica is, on average, the coldest, driest, and windiest of the continents, and has the highest …

3 days ago · Antarctica, the world’s southernmost continent, is almost wholly covered by an ice sheet and is about 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km) in size.

Without any ice, Antarctica would emerge as a giant peninsula and archipelago of mountainous islands, known as Lesser Antarctica, and a single large landmass about the size of Australia, known as …

People in Antarctica Learn about what life is like for people living in Antarctica.

Mar 13, 2026 · Though Antarctica is really, really chilly, it is considered a desert because it receives very little rain or snowfall. The small amount of snow that does fall does not melt but builds up over …

Explore Earth's coldest continent with the latest Antarctica news, articles and features from Live Science.

Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent, covering an area of 13.72 million square kilometers, making it the fifth-largest continent by land area. Despite its massive size, Antarctica has no …

Antarctica is Earth 's southernmost continent, overlying the South Pole. Situated in the southern hemisphere and largely south of the Antarctic Circle, Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.

5 days ago · The wildlife is special, from ever-endearing penguins to curious seals and playful whales against a spectacular icy backdrop. Many come to Antarctica for the wildlife but return for the ice.

Discover incredible facts about Antarctica, learn about past expeditions to the continent, and find out why it is the most inhospitable place on Earth