Larger than both and Europe, Antarctica contains 10% of the land mass in the world.However, this continent is far from hospitable, with sustain winds reaching 192 mph and temperatures as low as negative 89 degrees Celsius.This body of land is encircled by the Southern Ocean, which is comprised of the southernmost waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

These waters are home to the world's most nourishing nutrient currents, supporting unmeasurable numbers of whales, fish, seals, penguins, dolphins, and flying birds. Micro forage, also known as krill, grown under the vast ice shelves of the region.This food is the primary fare for consumption by sea creatures such as seals and whales.cruise travel to antarctica

The geographical landscape of Antarctica is the coldest, windiest continent on earth, meaning that the animals that live here must adapt to these extreme conditions.It has a yearly precipitation of merely 200mm around the coastline (and much less inland), and has the greatest average altitude of any continent.Animals which have learned to survive and thrive in these brutal weather conditions include penguins and seals.

However, Antarctica has a very special and unique natural feature that makes it important to each and every one of us.The greenhouse effect, however, is more advanced at the poles because the cold makes the molecules which make up our atmosphere heavier and more concentrated.Likewise, the absorption of the sun's radiant energy is more concentrated at the poles, warming the earth's surface.

The Earth's atmosphere composition is approximately 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.Carbon dioxide and methane are found in smaller quantities.These gases, combined with water vapor, reflect radiation back toward the earth causing it to warm.This is essentially how the greenhouse effect works.antarctic travel

The more severe climate areas by the equator take in the various gases more quickly than the more moderate weather locations.In the Antarctic, the rise in temperature resulting from the Greenhouse Effect is 4 times more than then the rising temperatures in temperate zones, making it the optimal place for further research on the Greenhouse Effect.

Antarctica is composed of mostly ices that is approximately three miles thick in some areas.The ice was formed by snow that has compacted for millions of years.Ancient ice preserves air bubbles that contain atomic isotopes from ages past and these can be studies by modern scientists.

The notorious gap in the ozone layer is a result of injecting many coolants into the surrounding atmospheric area with severe negative consequences.Overtime, this molecule has stripped away layers of the ozone.As such, it has created a warming effect in the area, destroying ice shelves.

Once separated, the ice shelves float north and eventually melt.This melting causes a rapid reduction of the polar icecaps and results in a corresponding rise in the level of the sea.Furthermore, this reduces the area where krill may grow.

If all of the ice in Antarctica melts, scientists estimate that the seas will rise at least 180 feet.This means that New York could resemble Venice, with waves touching the twentieth floor of some tall buildings.Near-sea-level nations like Bangladesh and island chains of the South Pacific may vanish altogether.

Almost everyone who has visited Antarctica describes it as a breathtaking land filled with exquisite beauty.The wildlife is not even disturbed by the humans walking about.It is an inspiring sight to view the mixture of animal innocence and nature's beauty.

It is the hope of many that this world will remain intact, its beauty forever preserved for future generations.It's destruction has been accelerating for quite a while,though.While measures to promote the preservation of this world have begun, with many nations helping, more are needed to protect this beauty.