Antarctica is the coldest, driest and least populated region in the world; a continent slightly larger than Europe. It remains one of the least well-understood places on Earth. Last year, a billion-ton glacier about the size of Texas melted into the sea. If our planet is heading for trouble, Antarctica will tell us first.
Conditions on the ice are harsh. Even in the Antarctic summer, the average temperature is around -60 C, while winds regularly reach 120 miles per hour.
Antarctica has been the testing ground for many explorers. Survival is difficult, and teamwork is a necessity. In an environment such as this, every decision can be a matter of life and death.
Posted by SCE on September 15, 2006 2:53 PM