15 Interesting Facts About Antarctica

At the southern tip of the Earth sits one of the planet’s biggest and most mysterious spots—the icy expanse of Antarctica. Spanning over 14 million square kilometers, it’s the fifth-largest continent. Most of the time, the temperatures here stay well below freezing. If you’re thinking of exploring this chilly wonderland, check out these 15 interesting facts you should know.

Antarctica Is The World’s Largest Polar Desert

Antarctica might not have camels or warm weather, but it’s full of ice and penguins, and it’s a polar desert. It’s the driest continent on Earth, getting about 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) of precipitation yearly. The McMurdo Dry Valleys, near the Ross Ice Shelf, are the driest spots, with no ice or snow. And get this: Antarctica is also the windiest continent. Katabatic winds can blast through at up to 320 km/h, warming up as they go.

It Was Once a Large Forest

Can you imagine that this icy southern continent was once a lush rainforest? About 90 million years ago, the South Pole, which is now on the East Antarctic Plateau, was warm and tropical with average temperatures of around 12°C (53°F). Back then, global sea levels were about 170 meters higher than today. Even in areas south of the Antarctic Circle, where there’s a four-month polar night, scientists have found big signs of a temperate rainforest.

Antarctica Holds Most of Earth’s Fresh Water

Antarctica’s ice sheet is the biggest on Earth, covering a staggering 14 million square kilometers (5.4 million square miles) of mountains, valleys, and plateaus. This means only about 1% of Antarctica is permanently ice-free. At its thickest, the ice is 4.5 kilometers deep—half the height of Mount Everest! If all this ice melted, sea levels around the world would rise by about 60 meters.

There’s No Standard Time Zone in Antarctica

Wondering what time it is in Antarctica? Well, that depends on which research station you’re at. Although all meridians technically meet at the South Pole, Antarctica spans multiple time zones. Each research station uses the time zone of their home country or their supplier country. There’s no single time zone for the entire continent since no country has control over it.

The Antarctic Peninsula Is Rapidly Heating Up

Antarctica has 15 huge ice shelves and thanks to climate change—its ice has been melting and making sea levels rise since at least 1993. NASA says that in 2022-23, the ice in West and East Antarctica melted away at a whopping 150 billion metric tons a year. The Antarctic Peninsula is actually in worse shape than the rest of the continent. Over the past 50 years, it’s been heating up 5x faster than the global average!

From the South Pole, All Directions Lead to the North

If you’re standing at the South Pole, every step you take will be heading north. From the southernmost point on Earth, the terms West and East Antarctica might seem a bit strange. Zero longitude (from Greenwich in the UK) acts as your reference point to help you get your bearings. So, if you face Greenwich while at the South Pole, everything to your right is East Antarctica, and everything to your left is West Antarctica.

Antarctica Has Only Two Flowering Plants

With all that ice, it’s no wonder Antarctica isn’t the top destination for flower lovers. There are just two types of flowering plants on the whole continent, and you’ll only spot them in a few ice-free areas. During the summer, you might find Antarctic hair grass on the Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic pearlwort around the continental edge. But don’t think the state is totally lifeless. It’s home to various fungi, algae, and mosses.

There’s a Red Lake Beneath Antarctica’s Ice

One of the coolest scientific facts about Antarctica is that there are lakes hidden under its huge ice sheet. Lake Vostok, for example, is a subglacial lake sitting about 4,000 meters below the ice. These lakes are full of mysteries and have kept scientists busy for years. Another interesting spot is Lake Bonney, which is 40 meters deep and sits right under the Taylor Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (super famous for the eerie Blood Falls).

There Are Active Volcanoes in Antarctica

Did you know Antarctica has two active volcanoes? Mount Erebus is the southernmost active volcano in the world, sitting on Ross Island next to the Ross Ice Shelf. At 3,794 meters (12,448 feet), it’s also the second-highest mountain in Antarctica. At the top of Mount Erebus—you’ll find one of just five lava lakes on Earth. This lake of bubbling molten rock sometimes shoots out lava bombs. 

Antarctica is Home to Unique Wildlife

Can you believe Antarctica is home to some of the coolest animals? The subantarctic islands are a hotspot for rare seabirds, killer whales, and seals. Penguins also set up camp on the Antarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic islands, with seven different penguin species calling Antarctica home. If you’re hoping to glimpse emperor penguins—head to Snow Hill Island near the Antarctic Peninsula.

Antarctic Fish Have’ Anti-Freeze’ Blood

Another interesting fact about Antarctica is some of its fish have special ‘anti-freeze’ proteins in their blood that keep them from freezing solid. While freshwater freezes at 0ºC (32ºF), saltwater can drop to -1.8ºC (28.75ºF) before it freezes. This amazing adaptation allows these fish to live in super cold temperatures without turning into ice.

There’s Sparkling Diamond Dust in Antarctica’s Air

It’s an amazing sight when tiny ice crystals float in the air, making it look like there are millions of little diamonds. At first, it might seem like just ice fog, but when the sun shines, these crystals sparkle like crazy. These tiny crystals can create sun dogs—bright spots on either side of the sun. You might catch these dazzling sun dogs in Antarctica if you’re lucky!

Antarctica Has Exclusive International Treaty

Imagine a giant icy continent like Antarctica with no owner. After Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen discovered it in 1820 and other explorers checked it out, it was clear there were no people living there. Countries then started to claim parts of this new land—which caused a lot of international tension. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in December 1959 to avoid big conflicts. It made sure that everyone would use Antarctica peacefully.

There Are Giant Mountain Ranges Under Antarctica’s Ice

Don’t let the endless ice in Antarctica fool you—it hides some of the world’s biggest mountain ranges! The Transantarctic Mountains are the fourth largest on Earth. What’s amazing is that you can look out over the icy continent and not even know that huge mountain ranges are buried under the ice right before you. For instance, the Gamburtsev Mountains stretch about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) long and rise around 2,700 meters (8,900 feet) high.

You’ll Find Over 80 Research Stations in Antarctica

When you’re out exploring Antarctica’s vast landscapes, it might feel like you’re all alone. But here’s the truth: there are over 80 research stations set up by around 30 countries. Some of these stations even let visitors come by. You can check out spots like the Amundsen-Scott base at the South Pole or the Brown Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. If you hop on an expedition cruise to Antarctica, you can visit one of them.