20 interesting facts about Antarctica

20 interesting facts about Antarctica

We share the most interesting facts about Antarctica that we collected on our recent trip to the seventh continent

For a long time it looked as if our trip to Antarctica would not take place. Covid postponed it from 2020 to 2021 and then again to 2022. Even after we got the green light, our nerves didn't calm down. If we tested positive for Covid we would not be allowed on the ship, and daily testing meant we could be quarantined in our cabins even after we left. In short, it was more stressful than expected.

Despite the added fear, we were thoroughly enchanted by the great white continent. In fact, Antarctica quickly became our #1 travel experience – a testament to its majesty in the face of daily challenges.

During our 10 day trip we observed a sleeping baby humpback whale; met gentoo and chinstrap penguins; saw extraordinary icebergs and landscapes; and fell in love with Paradise Bay. Along the way, we learned tons of interesting facts about Antarctica, the best of which we share below.

Interesting facts about Antarctica

1. Antarctica is home to a ghost mountain range

Antarctica is home to one of the largest mountain ranges in the world: the Gamburtsev Mountains, which stretch more than 1,200 kilometers through the interior of the continent. The highest peaks are around 2,800 m (9,000 feet) high, but here's the thing: they're completely buried under the thick Antarctic ice. Therefore, the Gamburtsev Mountains are also known as the “Ghost Mountains” of Antarctica. (Source: British Antarctic Survey)

BASSThe Gamburtsev Mountains are buried in ice

2. Antarctica's ice is three miles thick

The ice in Antarctica is three miles thick in places. The Astrolabe Subglacial Basin has the thickest ice in the world: a staggering 4,776 m (15,669 ft). For context: That's half the height of Mount Everest. (Source: BBC)

BASSThe Astrolabe Basin has the thickest ice in the world

3. The lowest point on Earth on land is in Antarctica

It is relatively well known that the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is the deepest point on the Earth's surface. The lowest exposed land is on the shores of the Dead Sea, 413 m (1,355 feet) below sea level. However, the overall lowest point on land is in East Antarctica beneath the Denman Glacier. The gorge there is covered by ice and reaches 3,500 m (11,500 ft) below sea level. Only in the ocean are valleys deeper. (Source: BBC)

BASSDenman Gorge, shown in dark blue, is 20 km wide, 100 km long and completely filled with ice

4. The coldest temperature ever recorded was in Antarctica

The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was recorded at Vostok Station, a Russian research station in Antarctica. Temperatures there dropped to a staggering -89.2°C (-128.6°F). Satellite data suggests that temperatures fell even further to -93.2 °C (-135.8 °F) on August 10, 2010, but this was never confirmed on the ground. (Source: British Antarctic Survey, BBC)

US Antarctic ProgramVostok Station in Antarctica

5. Antarctica expands to twice its size in winter

During the winter, the Antarctic Sea advances from the continent by about 100,000 square kilometers (40,000 square miles) each day, ultimately doubling the size of Antarctica before melting again in the summer. (Source: BBC, BBC)

Climate.govAntarctica essentially doubles in size during the winter

6. The South Pole has one sunrise and one sunset per year

The South Pole has only one sunrise (at the September equinox) and one sunset (at the March equinox) each year. Due to the Earth's tilted axis, the sun is always above the horizon in summer and always below it in winter. (Source: National Geographic)

Amble/CC BY-SA 3.0The South Pole only has one sunrise and one sunset each year

7. There is no Antarctic time zone

Antarctica does not have its own time zone. Most of the continent experiences six months of constant daylight in the summer and six months of darkness in the winter, making time appear more fluid. Scientists and researchers generally stay in the time zone of the country to which their station belongs. Interestingly, at the South Pole, the lines of longitude that mark the world's time zones meet at a single point, meaning that the pole is technically in every time zone. (Source: BBC)

Atlas & BootsTime means less in Antarctica

8. At the South Pole, every direction is north

The South Pole is the southernmost point on Earth, no matter which direction you look, you will be looking north. “West Antarctica” and “East Antarctica” are mapped according to the Prime Meridian, an imaginary line running through Greenwich, United Kingdom, at 0 degrees longitude. If you look at Greenwich from the South Pole, everything to your left is West Antarctica and everything to your right is East Antarctica. (Source: National Geographic)

Robert McGillivray/ShutterstockAntarctica is mapped according to the prime meridian

9. Antarctica is a desert

A desert is defined as a region that receives very little annual rainfall. Although Antarctica is certainly not hot and sandy, it is classified as a desert due to its low rainfall. In fact, Antarctica is the driest continent on Earth (as well as the coldest, windiest, and highest on average). (Source: BBC)

alt="Antarctica is a polar desert: Interesting facts about Antarctica">Sichkarenko/ShutterstockAntarctica is a polar desert

10. Antarctica has a “bloody” waterfall

In a remote corner of Antarctica lies a glacier that is “bleeding.” Blood Falls' deep red water was first observed in 1911, but it wasn't until 2017 that scientists discovered the cause. The water that flows from Taylor Glacier comes from a subglacial lake rich in salt and oxidized iron, giving the falls a bloody hue. (Source: National Geographic)

Peter Rejcek/Public DomainInteresting facts about Antarctica: a glacier that bleeds

11. Some Antarctic species have “antifreeze” in their blood

One of the most interesting facts about Antarctica is that some of its fish species have special “antifreeze” proteins in their blood to prevent them from freezing solid. Fresh water freezes at 0 ºC (32 ºF), but salt water can drop to -1.8 ºC (28.75 ºF) before freezing. Fortunately, this evolutionary quirk allows fish to survive in subzero temperatures. (Source: New York Times)

Paul Cziko/NSFNotothenioid fish have “antifreeze” in their blood

12. Eleven people were born in Antarctica

In January 1978, Emilio Marcos Palma became the first person to be born in Antarctica. His pregnant mother was reportedly sent there by Argentine authorities to lay claim to part of the continent. Since then, 10 more babies have been born on the continent. (Source: Guinness World Records)

Fair useEmilio Marcos Palma is the first person born in Antarctica

13. It is possible to run a marathon in Antarctica

Die-hard athletes can sign up for the 26.2-mile Antarctic Ice Marathon, currently in its sixteenth year. The event takes place at 80 degrees south, just a few hundred miles from the South Pole, at the foot of the Ellsworth Mountains. If you're interested - and have $20,500 to spare - you can register at icemarathon.com. (Source: Antarctic Ice Marathon)

Antarctic Ice MarathonRobust athletes at the Antarctic Ice Marathon

14. Antarctica has a lake that does not freeze at -20°C

Deep Lake in Antarctica is so salty that it cannot freeze even at temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F). (Source: Nature)

University of New South WalesDeep Lake in Antarctica does not freeze at temperatures of -20°C

15. The land in Antarctica is weighed down by the weight of its ice

The Antarctic ice sheet is so heavy that the land beneath it is sinking in places. Eastern Antarctica lies about 2,500 m (8,200 ft) below sea level due to the colossal weight of the ice. (Source: National Geographic)

alt="Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf in Antarctica">Sirtravelalot/ShutterstockRiiser-Larsen Ice Shelf in Antarctica

16. The Arctic Circle changes position

The Arctic Circle is a line of latitude at 66°33′49.0″ south of the equator. Below this line, the sun remains above the horizon for 24 hours continuously at least once a year. For tourists, the line marks an official crossing into Antarctica (although it is possible to land on continental Antarctica without crossing the circle). Interestingly, the line's position is not fixed and is currently drifting south at a rate of about 14.5 m (48 feet) per year. (Source: Britannica, World Ocean Review)

Atlas & Boots

Atlas & Boots

Kia and Peter toast crossing the Arctic Circle

17. Long-term residents must have their appendix removed

One of the most interesting facts about Antarctica concerns Villas Las Estrellas, a settlement on King George Island and one of the few places on the continent where people can live for years rather than months. In order to settle there, residents must have their appendix removed to minimize the risk of medical emergencies. And they're not the only ones. Doctors wintering at Australian Antarctic stations are also required to undergo the procedure. (Source: BBC, BBC, Australian Antarctic Program)

CC BY-SA 3.0Villas Las Estrellas in Antarctica

18. The Drake Passage is one of the most treacherous waters

Most visitors to Antarctica must cross the Drake Passage, a notorious body of water between Chile's Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands where three oceans meet and waves can exceed 12 m (40 feet), unhindered by land masses. The Drake is considered one of the most treacherous voyages for ships. (Source: Britannica, NPR)

Atlas & BootsKia looks out over Drake Passage

19. Antarctica is home to active volcanoes

Mount Erebus in Antarctica is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Located on Ross Island, it has a peak elevation of 3,794 m (12,448 ft) and is home to one of the world's few permanent lava lakes. Erebus is notable because its low but persistent activity allows volcanologists to study the Strombolian eruption system very close to the active vents (i.e. hundreds of meters). (Source: NASA)

DreamtimeMount Erebus is one of the most active volcanoes in the world

20. Antarctica is protected by the Antarctic Treaty

The Antarctic Treaty, which came into force on June 23, 1961, has ensured that Antarctica remains a peaceful place where the environment is protected and scientific research is prioritized. Military activity on land or on ice shelves below 60 degrees South is prohibited, and countries operating in Antarctica consult on the use of the entire continent, with a commitment that it will not become a theater or subject of international discord. (Source: British Antarctic Survey)

Reform-Furl581/ShutterstockAntarctica is protected by the Antarctic Treaty

Main image: Reform-Furl581/Shutterstock