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Antarctica is technically a continent, not a rustic, however I couldn’t resist throwing it in right here (particularly because it’s winter within the Northern Hemisphere). On common it’s the coldest, driest and windiest continent, and naturally the least inhabited, with just a few thousand folks dwelling there at any given time.
Antarctica Fundamentals
Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent and is 40 p.c bigger than Europe. The land space is round 14,200,000 sq. kilometers, or 5,500,000 sq. miles, and many of the land is roofed with an ice sheet that’s 1.2 miles/1.9 km deep.
The Antarctic Treaty of 1957 established the continent as a scientific protect, and nations that do important analysis there have a collective say in determination making. Seven completely different international locations declare sovereignty over elements of Antarctica, together with Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Nice Britain, New Zealand and Norway.
The land surrounds the South Pole and is nearly all under the Antarctic Circle. It’s divided into japanese and western sections separated by the Transantarctic Mountains. A lot of the land is a polar desert and it solely receives about 6 inches/150 mm or precipitation (largely as snow) yearly.
Antarctica Symbols
As a result of Antarctica isn’t truly a rustic it doesn’t have an official flag or nationwide anthem or something. The symbol of the Antarctic Treaty is usually used as a flag (and is proven above).
So how about some enjoyable details as an alternative? Antarctica is residence to penguins and seals, as nicely a mites, nematodes and tardigrades. What vegetation happens is usually lichen and moss.
About 70 p.c of the world’s recent water is frozen in Antarctica, and if it melted would increase sea ranges by nearly 60 meters/200 toes (thanks Wikipedia!).
The bottom pure air temperature ever recorded was on the Russian Vostok Station on July 21, 1983, and was −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F).
Antarctica Actions for Children
NASA has a superb article about Antarctica for teenagers and what NASA learns in regards to the earth and about house from finding out the continent.
Antarctica Day is outwardly December 1 (it celebrates the signing of the treaty in 1959 talked about above), and you’ll learn extra about its significance and the sort of work being performed there on this article from the Nationwide Science Basis.
Trillium Montessori has an excellent set of printable playing cards on the bodily options of Antarctica, together with icebergs, glaciers and the South Pole.
Homeschooling My Kinetic Children has printable playing cards on completely different animals that reside in and round Antarctica, primarily based on the Antarctic animals Toob toys. You may also make an Antarctica shelf for teenagers to discover with these concepts from Pinay Homeschooler.
Make enjoyable origami penguins with this craft from Artsy Craftsy Mother.
Antarctica Books for Children
Study extra about Antarctica with books like these:
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