1. What is Antarctica?
Click here to take a tour of Antarctica

2. Where is Antarctica?
Antarctica is a white continent which stretches across the bottom of the world.
It is completely surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
It is twice as big as Australia.

3. What is the Weather Like?
It is the coldest, driest, windiest, iciest and highest place on earth.
Even the summer is freezing because it is so far away from the sun.
In winter it is dark all day!

4. What Plants Grow There?
“Not a tree to be seen, nor a shrub even big enough to make a toothpick” (Captain Cook)
There are no trees in Antarctica.
Only lichens, mosses, fungi, liverworts and algae.

5. What Animals Live There?
Most of the land animals are tiny invertebrates. You would need a microscope to see them!
Fish and whales live in the sea.
Seals and birds need both the land and the sea to survive.
Images: Microsoft Online ClipArt* © Copyright NSW Department of Education and Training 2006.