Antarctica is situated in the southern hemisphere and is located in the world’s southernmost continent, overlying the South Pole. It is the world’s fifth largest continent, and approximately 98% of its land is covered by ice, which averages at least 1 mile in thickness. Antarctica is known as the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, with only the cold-adapted plants and animals surviving its freezing weather. Such animals are penguins, mosses, seals, lichen, and several types of algae.
Antarctica is home to some of the most frigid and barren lands on earth. However, for those who are lucky enough to visit Antarctica, they can expect to see some of the world’s most amazing landscapes and scenery. One of the most interesting things about Antarctica is the active ecosystem, with sea-life animals, such as penguins, blue whales, orca’s, colossal squids and fur seals. The emperor penguin, for instance, is found in Antarctica, as well as the Rockhopper penguin, and the Gentoo penguin.
Due to its challenging climate, there are approximately only 1,000 visitors during wintertime, and about 5,000 visitors during the summer. Winter can be an interesting time to visit Antarctica, but it is quite dangerous, because of the unpredictable and violent weather conditions in the area. The summer, from October to March, is an ideal time to visit as the continent is brought to life by 20-24 hours of sunlight per day. Land travel in Antarctica is primarily done by hiking, skiing, driving snow mobiles, and riding dog sleds. As for water transport, numerous tour boats sail around the Antarctic Peninsula. Finally, airplanes and helicopters frequently travel around the 20 airports in Antarctica.
One of the great things about Antarctica is that visitors are not required to have a visa to travel there. While a passport may be needed for identification purposes at the departure point, the passport is not needed when visitors arrive at Antarctica. Those coming in from certain countries may need a permit to travel to Antarctica.
