the size of the US
note:
second-smallest continent (after Australia)
Land boundaries:
none, but see entry on International disputes
Coastline:
17,968 km
Maritime claims:
none, but see entry on International Disputes
International disputes:
Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary below);
sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile,
France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen
Maud Land), and UK; the US and most other nations do not recognize the
territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves
(the US reserves the right to do so); no formal claims have been made
in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west
Climate:
severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance
from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because
of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate
climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and
average slightly below freezing
Terrain:
about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average
elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 4,897
meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria
Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross
Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of
the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of
the continent
Natural resources:
none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel,
platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found
in small, uncommercial quantities
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects
the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, had dwindled
to the lowest level recorded over Antarctica since 1975 when
measurements were first taken
natural hazards:
katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high
interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau;
cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the
coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West
Antarct