Antarctica

Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth, located south of latitude 60 degrees south, with a total area of about 65 million square kilometers. It encompasses the Southern Ocean, its islands, and the Antarctic continent, making it the last discovered and the only uninhabited continent by indigenous people.

The Antarctic continent is covered by a massive ice sheet, resembling a comma, with an average elevation of 2,350 meters. Antarctica harbors over 220 types of minerals, bearing significant scientific and resource value. Its climate is extremely cold, with the ice sheet forming around 34 million years ago, becoming Earth’s colossal “refrigerator.”

The Antarctic ecosystem is unique and fragile, with the survival of species like penguins drawing significant attention. Research teams employ ancient DNA sequencing and geological dating methods to uncover changes in Antarctic biodiversity and the evolutionary trajectory of penguin species.