Speculation over the existence of a “southern land” was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. It wasn’t established until 1840 that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not merely a group of islands or an area of ocean. Following World War II, the continent experienced an upsurge in scientific research. A number of countries have set up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support scientific research in Antarctica.

Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent following Asia, Africa, North America and South America. Antarctica is slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the United States.

Antarctica is considered the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth. Severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation and distance from the ocean. East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation. The Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate. Higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing; summers are characterized by continuous darkness. Persistent high pressure over the interior brings dry air that results in very little cloud cover.

The terrain is about 98 percent thick continental ice sheet and two percent barren rock. Ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound.

There are no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent and summer-only staffed research stations.

Scientific undertakings rather than commercial pursuits are the predominant human activity in Antarctica. Offshore fishing and tourism, both based abroad, account for Antarctica’s limited economic activity.

The Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes.

The Antarctic Treaty freezes, and most states do not recognize, the land and maritime territorial claims made by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom (some overlapping) for three-fourths of the continent; the United States and Russia reserve the right to make claims.

SOURCE: CIA World Factbook