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Image © B.K. Lucchitta, provided courtesy of B.K.
Lucchitta and the
U.S. Geological Suvey
Larger Image (94k)
Labeled image (209k)
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The Antarctic surface terrain is 98%
continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock - an uninhabitable desert, with
no arable land for agriculture. Antarctica has the added distinction of
being the windiest, highest, coldest, and driest continent. It is the
second smallest continent after Australia.
< In this image: This image is a mosaic of several images
acquired at different times (Black geometric shapes along the border
of the larger image are due to this mosaic process). A border between
two of the images can be seen running diagonally through the sound and
Ross Sea, explaining the apparent discontinuity in the distribution
of floating ice. McMurdo sound is visible at center. Ross Island is
half locked in ice with the peak of Mt. Erebus, an active volcano, visible
in the center of the west half of the island. McMurdo research station
is on the peninsula extending southwest into the Ross Ice Shelf. Also
visible to the northwest are the Allan Hills where researchers found
the SNC meteorite from Mars (ALH0031) that suggests evidence of ancient
life on that planet.
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Who Claims Antarctica?: No one country lays claim to the entire
continent of Antarctica. Antarctica is managed under guidelines set
up by the Antarctic Treaty of 1961. Seven countries (Argentina, Australia,
Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK) claim portions of Antarctic
territory (some claims overlap). These seven countries and 19 other
"non-claimant" countries (including the US) vote on administrative
matters for Antarctica.
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