Antarctica

What is the name of the high, dry area in Antarctica often referred to as "the Dry Valleys"?

McMurdo Dry Valleys

What seal species is the most abundant in Antarctica?

Crabeater Seal

How many people live in Antarctica year-round (approximately)?

1,000

What is the only insect native to Antarctica?

Belgica antarctica

What was the name of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated ship that was trapped in Antarctic ice?

Endurance

Why is Antarctica considered ideal for studying climate change?

Its ice cores preserve atmospheric history

What is the highest point in Antarctica?

Vinson Massif

What is the name of the first woman to set foot on Antarctica?

Caroline Mikkelsen

What is the largest ice shelf in Antarctica?

Ross Ice Shelf

What ocean surrounds Antarctica?

Southern Ocean

What is the coldest continent on Earth?

Antarctica

What was the first permanent research station established in Antarctica?

Argentine Esperanza Base

Which species of penguin is the largest and breeds during the Antarctic winter?

Emperor Penguin

Which international agreement preserves Antarctica for scientific research and bans military activity?

Antarctic Treaty

What type of telescope is ideal for installation in Antarctica due to its dry, cold air?

Infrared Telescope

How many countries have territorial claims in Antarctica?

Seven

Who is credited with being the first person to reach the South Pole?

Roald Amundsen

Which desert classification applies to Antarctica?

Polar Desert

What international system manages scientific research on Antarctica?

SCAR

Which British explorer died during his return from the South Pole in 1912?

Robert Falcon Scott

Which type of fossilized plant has been found in Antarctica, indicating it was once much warmer?

Ferns

What is the name of the mountain range that divides East and West Antarctica?

Transantarctic Mountains

Which penguin species is the smallest found in Antarctica?

Adélie Penguin

What role does Antarctica play in regulating Earth's ocean currents?

It drives global thermohaline circulation

Name one type of krill that is crucial to Antarctica's marine food chain.

Euphausia superba

What bird, known for its long migrations, breeds in Antarctica?

Arctic Tern

Which hole in the Earth's atmosphere was first observed over Antarctica?

Ozone hole

What is the name of the only active volcano on mainland Antarctica?

Mount Erebus

What was the name of the mission in which scientists drilled into Lake Vostok?

Vostok Subglacial Project

What is the name of the famous meteorite found in Antarctica that some scientists believe might contain signs of life from Mars?

Allan Hills 84001

What is the approximate size of Antarctica compared to other continents?

Fifth largest

What predator bird scavenges in Antarctica and often follows research stations?

Skua

How thick is the Antarctic ice sheet at its deepest point?

4,800 meters

Which whale species migrates to Antarctic waters to feed during the summer?

Blue Whale

Approximately what percentage of the Earth's freshwater is stored in Antarctica's ice?

60%

What is the largest research station in Antarctica?

McMurdo Station

In what year did Roald Amundsen reach the South Pole?

1911

What phenomenon causes parts of Antarctica to experience six months of daylight followed by six months of darkness?

Earth's axial tilt

When was the Antarctic Treaty signed?

1959

Which American naval officer led Operation Highjump in Antarctica in 1946-47?

Richard E. Byrd

Name one invertebrate that thrives in the icy Antarctic waters.

Sea spider