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Antarctica: A Mysterious and Frozen Continent
by Dismand Champion, age 9
Did
you know the name Antarctica comes from the Greek language, and means
“opposite to the north"? Antarctica is the fifth largest continent, and is covered in ice bergs and ice. There are many amazing features of Antarctica.
Even
though Antarctica is mostly made up of ice, it also has volcanoes. Ross
Island, located on the west coast of Antarctica has an active volcano
called Mount Erebus. Ice flows down to the coast, forming glaciers. When
ice gets too heavy the glacier breaks apart into icebergs. The coasts
of Antarctica are home to lots of ice and volcanos.
Surprisingly,
there are many amazing animals in Antarctica. These animals have thick
feathers and fur to keep them warm. Some of them even have extra layers
of fat that help to keep them even warmer. There are krill, whales,
fish, squid, seals and birds. Some predatory birds are the Skua and
Large Winged Albatross.
Did you know people live in Antarctica
too? Lots of people participate in expeditions, or compete in races
using dogs to pull their sleds. Scientists also live in Antarctica to
research microbiology and space research. These scientists can study
there but must abide by the Antarctica Treaty. This agreement protects
the valuable resources beneath the ice and forbids any military or
industrial activities on the continent.
[Source: Kingfisher’s Encyclopedia]
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