Antarctica is at the bottom of the globe. The Southern Ocean circles all the way around it. The South Pole is in the middle of Antarctica. It is the coldest place on Earth. It is also one of the windiest places. Antarctica is the third smallest continent.

Antarctica has mountains and valleys. It even has lakes. Most of the land is hidden under deep ice. Snow fell on Antarctica for millions of years. The frozen snow makes it the highest continent in the world. Cold air freezes the water around Antarctica. This makes ice shelves. In summer the ice shelves break off. They become giant icebergs.

Not many plants live on Antarctica. Mosses grow near the coast. Algae and lichens grow there, too.

No mammals can live on Antarctica. Tiny animals like fleas and insects live on the coast. Small krill swim in the water near the continent. Blue whales eat the krill near Antarctica. Blue whales are the largest animals in the world. Elephant seals also eat the krill. The Emperor Penguin is Antarctica’s largest bird. The penguins eat food from the water around the continent. They use Antarctica to rest and to raise their babies. Other birds like gulls and terns live in the sky above Antarctica.

No people live in Antarctica. After 1820, explorers came to Antarctica to go to the South Pole. Now scientists come to Antarctica to study the land. Only a few people come to visit the frozen continent.