What makes a Antarctica an extreme environment?

- Antarctica holds the record for the coldest temperature officially recorded on Earth: −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F).

- On average, the temperature in Antarctica is −57 °C (−70.6 °F), with the lowest average temperatures occurring at the South Pole.

Wind

- Antarctica is known for its strong and persistent winds.

- The average wind speed in Antarctica is 20 knots (37 km/h, 23 mph).

- The highest wind speed ever recorded in Antarctica was 327 km/h (203 mph) on July 12, 1996, at Dumont d'Urville Station.

Humidity

- The relative humidity in Antarctica is very low, usually ranging between 10 and 20 percent.

- This extreme dryness can cause skin and lips to become cracked and chapped.

Terrain

- The vast majority (over 98%) of Antarctica is covered in ice.

- The ice sheet in Antarctica is the thickest on Earth, with an average thickness of 2,160 meters (7,087 ft).

- The highest point in Antarctica is Mount Vinson, which rises to 4,892 meters (16,050 ft) above sea level.

- The highest mountain on the continent is the Antarctic Peninsula, which is a mountainous peninsula stretching from the continent to South America.

Sunlight

- Antarctica is located in the southern polar region of the Earth, which means that it experiences long periods of darkness during the winter months.

- In midwinter, the sun does not rise for several months at the South Pole.

- Conversely, in midsummer, the sun does not set for several months at the South Pole.

Isolation

- Antarctica is the most isolated continent on Earth, surrounded by the Southern Ocean and thousands of kilometers from any other landmass.

- This isolation makes it difficult to access and resupply research stations, making life there challenging.