Introduction
Antarctica is a continent almost entirely buried by snow and ice, so remote and so hostile that it has no permanent inhabitants. Apart from a handful of research stations, Antarctica remains virtually untouched by man’s activities.
In spite of – or perhaps because of – its extreme climate and isolation, Antarctica has a special natural beauty. Those that have had the chance to go there are drawn to return again and again.
Map of Antarctica
Many years ago, explorers like Scott and Shackleton were drawn towards Antarctica with the aim of making geographical discoveries and territorial claims. Today, the main objective is research. Antarctica has become the focus of international effort to obtain a fuller understanding of the continent itself, its part in the evolution of our planet and its influence on global climate. The Antarctic Treaty, which came into force in 1961, has been an international success; Antarctica is truly a continent for science, as this political framework has made it possible for scientists to come from all round the globe to work alongside each other.
Here we present some of the reasons why Antarctica is such an amazing continent as well as some of the many factors that make Antarctica particularly fascinating to scientists.
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The Iciest Continent
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