Geographical Characteristics of Antarctica
Antarctica, the southernmost continent on Earth, is surrounded by the Southern Ocean’s frigid waters. It is the fifth-largest continent, about 40% larger than Europe, with an area of 14.2 million square kilometres. The continental landmass is almost entirely covered by an ice sheet averaging 2.2 km in thickness, forming the largest freshwater reservoir on Earth, which locks up about 70% of the world’s freshwater. This section provides an in-depth study of Antarctic geography, exploring its ice sheets, ice shelves, mountain ranges, and subglacial lakes. The continent is divided into East Antarctica, largely composed of a high ice-covered plateau, and West Antarctica, essentially an ice sheet covering an archipelago of mountainous islands. The detailed topographical study will elucidate the diversity within the icy expanse of the continent. Recent research has also revealed the presence of subglacial volcanoes, adding another layer to the geographical complexity of Antarctica.