This is one of the most mysterious and little-studied continents on our planet. Antarctica was discovered by two brave researchers - M. Lazarev and F. Bellingshausen. Their expedition confirmed the presence of Antarctica in the south of the globe. It happened in 1820.
Today, this southern continent of the earth, as in antiquity, holds many mysteries. The nature of Antarctica is quite severe and does not differ in variety. It is established that this is the highest continent. The land rises above sea level by 2-4 thousand (in the center of the continent) kilometers.
Continent description
Transarctic mountains cross Antarctica and divide it into two parts - eastern and western. Almost the entire mainland is covered with ice. Only in its western part, approximately forty thousand square kilometers are occupied by ice-free sections. They are located on the Pacific coast - small plains and several mountain peaks called nunataki. They rise above the ice cover.
The ice cover of the continent - the most powerful on Earth - 30 million cubic meters of ice, making up 90% of the ice reserves of the earth. It is characteristic that the ice of Antarctica contains a huge reserve of fresh water.
Climatic conditions
The nature of Antarctica is characterized by the coldest climate on earth. In 1983, the absolute minimum was officially registered - minus 89.2 degrees. In winter, the temperature is between –60 and -75 degrees. In summer, it rises to -50. And only on the coast the climate is milder: the average temperature ranges from 0 to -20 degrees.
Precipitation is possible only in the form of snow, which is compressed under its own weight, forming new layers of ice.
However, there are rivers and lakes in Antarctica. They appear in the summer, and in winter they are again covered with an ice crust. Today, scientists have discovered 140 subglacial lakes. Of these, only one does not freeze - the East.
Plant World of Antarctica
The flora of the continent is extremely poor. The nature of Antarctica is explained by its harsh climate. Most of all, algae grows here - about 700 species. The ice-free plains and coast of the mainland are covered with lichens and mosses. There are only two flowering plants in this harsh land - colobanthus whale and Antarctic meadow.
Kolobantus Quito belongs to the clove family. This is a low herbaceous plant that has a pillow-shaped shape with small pale yellow and white flowers. The height of an adult plant does not exceed five 5 centimeters.
Antarctic meadow refers to cereals. It grows only on land covered by the sun. These nondescript bushes grow up to 20 centimeters. The plant tolerates frost well. Even during flowering, frost does not harm him.
The plant world of Antarctica, represented by a few plants, has adapted to the eternal cold. Their cells contain little water, all processes are slow.
Animals
Features of the nature of Antarctica left their mark on the fauna of the continent. Animals of this icy country live only where there is vegetation. Despite the harsh climate, dinosaurs lived in Antarctica in ancient times.
Antarctic animals can conditionally be divided into two independent groups - aquatic and terrestrial. It should be noted that there are no animals constantly living on land in Antarctica.
The waters surrounding the mainland are rich in zooplankton, which is the main food for seals, whales, penguins and fur seals. Ice fish live here - amazing creatures that have adapted to exist in ice water.
Large whales of Antarctica include blue whales, which attract a large number of shrimp here.
In fresh lakes, blue-green algae and roundworms settle, crustaceans and daphnia are found.
Birds
For penguins, Arctic terns and skuas, Antarctica is their home. The nature of the mainland does not allow more birds to live here. Four species of penguins live in Antarctica. The largest population is imperial. Occasionally, petrels fly to the southern mainland.
Mammals
Antarctica, whose nature is too harsh for animals to live, can boast only of those species that can live both on land and in water. First of all, these are seals. In addition, sea leopards and elephant seals live on the coast. There are small sand or black and white dolphins, which whalers call sea cows.
Antarctica Predators
On this continent there are many diverse predators. Their diet consists mainly of planktonic crustaceans. Of these, the sea leopard, the largest seal that feeds on krill, must be singled out. It lives in shallow depths. At the same time, it also has the glory of a predator, which is capable of hunting large animals as well. Such hunting, however, is only seasonal in nature and is designed to diversify the diet, consisting of squid and fish, but its basis is krill. A small number of these marine predators are kept near the rookeries of fur seals and penguin colonies. In most cases, these giants drift on the ice along the peninsula and gather in large numbers near South Georgia by the beginning of winter.
Sea leopards are real giants. The officially registered length is 3.8 meters, but animals were found larger.
By autumn, leopards change their lifestyle and come close to the coast, along which inexperienced young fur seals and penguins descend.
Invertebrates
Who fully suits the nature of Antarctica is the invertebrate arthropod. 67 species of ticks and four species of lice live in Antarctica. There are lice, fleas and, of course, mosquitoes. It should be noted that wingless ringing mosquitoes, which have a coal-black color, live only on the icy continent. These insects are endemic to fully land animals.
The bulk of invertebrates and insects are brought to the southern continent by birds.
