Living in the Antarctic

As the coldest, windiest, and highest continent on the earth, the Antarctic is known as the land of the extremes. It is also the largest desert in the world, since a desert is a place, contrary to common belief, where there is very little rainfall; Antarctica’s rainfall is only a little more than that received by the Sahara Desert. The ice, which provides Antarctica with more fresh water than anywhere else on the planet, was not produced by recent rainfall.
Technology developed over the last two hundred years has finally provided a way for people to visit a continent heretofore impossible to reach because of the icy barriers, at the same time providing them with the means for survival that are not naturally available on the continent, such as materials for constructing shelter from the frigid temperatures and provisions of food necessary for long stays.
Because of climatic conditions, only a few dedicated scientists remain in their scientific stations for more than six months during the year while carrying out important research; the sub-freezing winter temperatures are coupled with 24-hour darkness of the year for six months – due to the fact that there is only one sunrise and one sunset a year at the South Pole – rendering it a very hostile environment.
Originally, research was begun at the Pole with the purpose of discovering as much as possible about the Antarctic. Now, because of recent discoveries some research is being centered on the Antarctic’s similarities with certain characteristics of the planet Mars. Explorers in the zone are now searching for life in the more extreme areas of the continent which could help us understand whether or not life could have existed on Mars. The continent provides an excellent experimental laboratory for studying the effects of space travel and developing new methods for extra-planetary exploration.
There are many unusual and interesting discoveries that have been discovered about Antarctica that have earned it the reputation of being the continent of superlatives.
The Deepest Earth Depression: the lowest land level on earth is found in the Bentley Sub-glacial Trench at about 2.555 meters (8,325 feet) below sea level. It is covered by the thickest layer of ice that has been measured up to now. 90% of the world’s ice is found in Antarctica, as well as the world’s largest supply of fresh water.
Marine Life: One of the most peculiar marine life forms found in the sea waters around the Antarctic is a fish which, like most other animals in the area, has adapted to the resist the near freezing water temperatures. Almost all of the hemoglobin in the blood of this fish has been eliminated and in its place has created a type of antifreeze. Everything about this fish is white, internally and externally.
Climate: Another of the Antarctic’s superlatives in the coldest weather on the planet, with the lowest recorded temperature at -89.4°C (-129°F). There are also the occasional, very strong winds known as the katabatic winds which can reach hurricane force up to 304kmph (190mph). However, these winds usually blow around the shores of the continent, and the weather is among the calmest and clearest on the Earth.
There is very little snow- or rainfall at the South Pole. There is some snow, but annually, Antarctica is as dry as the Sahara desert.
The ice in Antarctica is not what most people actually expect; because it has been accumulating for millennia, one layer at a time, it has evolved into a type of sedimentary rock composed of eons of frozen snow crystals.
Scientists are studying the ice by drilling deep into it; the drill brings up samples which contain various layer of the ice which can be studied to understand the atmospheric conditions at the time the ice was formed and how the atmosphere has changed over time.