The South Pole is located on the continent of Antarctica. Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent on Earth, covering an area of about 14.2 million square kilometers (5.5 million square miles). It is almost entirely covered by ice, with an average ice thickness of about 2,160 meters (7,100 feet). The lowest point on Antarctica is the Bentley Subglacial Trench, which is located at 2,555 meters (8,383 feet) below sea level.