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 …

Jan 5, 2026 · 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.

Sep 25, 2025 · 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 …

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 Greater Antarctica.

Jan 5, 2026 · Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

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 permanent population due to its harsh climate, icy terrain, and remote location.

Apr 17, 2025 · Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth. The Antarctic ice sheet contains about 7.2 million cubic miles (30 million cubic kilometers) in an area just under 1.5 times...

Jun 16, 2025 · Antarctica, a continent of unparalleled ice and stark beauty, is Earth’s southernmost landmass, representing a vital frontier for scientific research and a testament to …

General facts about Antarctica, including geography, temperatures, and wildlife.

Where is Antarctica? Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and least populated continent on the planet. It is in the Southern Hemisphere and it is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.