Antarctica is home to an active volcano

At first glance, it may appear to be an island like any other, but the fact that it is not completely covered in snow should catch your attention… Mount Erebus, whose summit forms Deception Island (Deception), is the location of the southernmost active volcano on the planet. It last erupted in the late 1960s.

There are no time zones here

Because Antarctica is largely uninhabited and internationally administered, the continent is not officially divided into time zones. Research stations choose which time zone to tie themselves to: the country that funds them or the country geographically closest to their base (e.g., Chile).

This is the largest desert in the world

A desert is defined as an area that receives less than 254 mm of rainfall per year. On average, Antarctica receives less than 50 mm. Parts of Antarctica have not received snow or rain for over 2 million years! As the driest continent in the world, Antarctica is the largest desert on the planet. The Sahara has not seen such a drought!

Argentina sent a pregnant woman there hoping to use the birth of her child to claim part of the continent

It was 1977. A little boy, Emilio Marcos Palma, was born there a few months later. He was the first known person born on the continent. The Antarctic Treaty already guaranteed international administration of the territory, but Argentina hoped that citizens born there would make its claims more legitimate. Between 1978 and 1983, 8 Argentine children were born in Antarctica.

It’s not always polar cold here

You might think the temperature here is well below what you can comfortably tolerate. But cruise ships visit Antarctica between November and March, when it’s summer in the southern hemisphere, and go mostly to the northern part of the continent. In this area on the peninsula, temperatures range from -2°C to 2°C. If you want to travel further south in the middle of winter, then you must prepare thoroughly. The lowest temperature in these places was recorded in 2010 as the lowest in the world: -92 ° C.

There is a Chilean village in Antarctica

This civilian settlement, which is also a research station, has the beautiful name Villa Las Estrellas (“City of Stars”). It is located on an island 120 kilometers from the edge of the peninsula. Housing 150 people in summer and 80 in winter, Villa Las Estrellas has an elementary school, a gymnasium, a post office and a first aid hospital.

There are 300 unfrozen lakes here

At first you might think that fresh water would freeze in such a cold climate, but there are about 300 lakes in Antarctica. How is this possible? The lakes are underground and kept at temperatures above 0°C by heat from the Earth’s core.

It is the only continent where there are no reptiles

Because they are cold-blooded, reptiles depend on heat sources in the environment to keep warm. They cannot survive in an icy region like Antarctica. So the penguins can sleep easy: there are no snakes to bother them here.

The continent contains about 90% of the ice on Earth

That’s 75% of the world’s fresh water. There are rocks and soil under all that ice – the continent is twice the size of Australia. Some of the icebergs themselves are huge: a glacier that’s bigger than Jamaica was discovered here, at just 11,000 square kilometers, and it’s the largest iceberg ever measured.

Here you will never see the same thing twice

Antarctica offers a variety of experiences every month. November – early summer: the icebergs are particularly massive and birds are in their courtship and mating season. In December, penguins sit on their eggs. In late December and January the eggs hatch and new generations emerge. In February and March, many whales return here. Antarctica is closed to visitors the rest of the year: it is dark most of the time and the temperature is too low for humans to endure.

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No. 1 – Pine Island or Doomsday Glacier

This is the most dangerous phenomenon on the planet, because it melts faster than any other. Every year, giant icebergs break off from it. In February 2022, a chunk of ice the size of Odessa crashed into the ocean. NASA experts on satellite photos recorded deep cracks, which covered the glacier. If Pine Island completely melts, the water level in the ocean will rise by a meter, which means the flooding of cities on the coasts of all continents.

2nd place – dinosaur fossils

Antarctica has well-preserved remains of lizards that lived on our planet hundreds of millions of years ago, when the entire landmass was united into one super-continent. Scientists have found tons of bones on the icy continent, including completely unknown species such as Cryolophosaurus (Cryolophosaurus).

3rd place – Lake Vostok

One of the most important geographical discoveries of the 21st century. A body of water, the size of Lake Baikal, was found under a 4-kilometer layer of ice near the Vostok polar station. The lake had been cut off from the world for at least half a million years. Without oxygen, under conditions of ultra-high pressure, evolution there took a completely different path. That’s why scientists have been drilling their way to the prehistoric water for forty years.

4th place – Taylor Glacier’s bloody waterfall.

Humanity learned about it less than a hundred years ago. From afar, the wide stream really looks like a bloody wound or a rock. Its mystery is that deep under the glacier there is an isolated salt lake with iron deposits, oxides of which colored the water. Moreover – in the water found a lot of living microorganisms. Scientists suggest that such underground lakes are inhabited by bacteria, may exist on other planets and even on their large satellites.

5th place – whiteout

This phenomenon in Antarctica is very dangerous – it is an illusion when on a bright cloudless day the horizon line disappears and it is impossible to distinguish ice from the sky. A person completely loses orientation. This anomaly in 1979 cost the lives of 250 passengers and crew members of an Air New Zealand airplane. During a sightseeing flight, the pilot lost orientation and crashed into a volcano.

6th place – Martian valleys on Earth

They are located near the American McMurdo station. The winds here blow at a speed of 320 km/h, the temperature never rises above 0, and there has been no precipitation for at least 8 million years. Here NASA scientists test rovers, because the weather in the valleys is the closest to the natural conditions of Mars. But for humans, working here is a life-and-death ordeal.

7th place – the icy finger of death or Brynickle.

One of the most mysterious phenomena on the planet, which scientists learned about only in 2011. The ice stalactite sinks to the ice bottom, destroying all life on its way. According to scientists, this is how a jet of very cold and salty water that descends from the ice on the surface freezes. Fortunately, its speed does not exceed 30 cm/hour, so it threatens only sea urchins and stars.

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The Antarctic continent is considered a desert, despite its vast supply of fresh water. Precipitation here is rare and falls in solid form (ice or snow).

Even in the Antarctic summer, 99% of Antarctica is covered with ice, reaching a thickness of 5000 meters. The earth does not retain heat here, as the sun’s rays are almost entirely reflected by the ice.

Three climatic zones are represented in Antarctica:

Inner part of the continent, the polar plateau: the coldest area of Antarctica with the most extreme conditions.
Winter temperatures here range from -40 to -70 ºC (the minimum recorded temperature was -89º.3 ºC, at Vostok Base). And precipitation is minimal, with only 100 mm of annual rainfall.

The climate on the coast is influenced by the ocean. Temperatures range from -15 to -32ºC in winter and -5 to 5ºC in summer.

Rainfall varies between 200-600 mm per year.

Also these coastal areas are subject to the strongest winds, averaging 54 km/hour, exceeding 300 km/hour during winter storms.

Antarctic Peninsula: this is a region with a warmer and wetter climate.
The peninsula is the most temperate and humid region with frequent precipitation of about 1000 mm per year. Temperatures range from 0 to 5ºC in summer and -10 to -30ºC in winter.

Due to milder climatic conditions and plenty of vacant land, this is where human activities are concentrated. In addition, most of the wildlife gathers in this part for breeding.

At the South Pole, 2,800 meters above sea level, the average annual temperature is -49°C, ranging from -28°C in January to -59.5°C in July. The lowest recorded temperature is -83°C and the highest: -12°C.

Antarctica’s coastal areas

The coastal regions of Antarctica have a much milder climate. This is due to the lower latitude (in some areas the coasts are above the Arctic Circle) and lower altitude (unlike inland areas, where there is a thick ice cap), as well as the influence of the sea. Temperatures here rarely drop below -30°C, even in winter. The highest temperature was recorded here on January 5, 1974, and it was 14.5°C.

Average temperature by months – Australian station “Casey”

Esperanza station on the Antarctic Peninsula

At Argentina’s Esperanza station, located in the warmest part of the Antarctic Peninsula, temperatures are even higher, in fact, the daily average ranges from a minimum of -10.5°C in June to a maximum of 1.5°C in January.

Winds

Strong winds are characteristic of Antarctica. They are caused by an anticyclone (or high pressure center) that usually develops inside the continent, from where the winds are generated in a northerly and northeasterly direction to the cyclone zone (or low pressure centers) located in circumpolar latitudes.

Precipitation

The air over Antarctica is usually so cold that it cannot hold water vapor. Therefore, precipitation is scarce here. It is usually snow.

The amount of snowfall in the Antarctic interior is only 200 mm per year. Near the coast, the amount of precipitation increases significantly – about 600 mm. per year. On the sea islands their amount is possibly up to 1000 mm. per year.

Climatic conditions depend mainly on the altitude you are at.

When it is better to go to Antarctica

The Antarctic season lasts about five months (November to March), each with its own peak times. At the end of the season, there are usually fewer people on cruises, but also less fauna on the mainland.

During the summer in Antarctica (December through February), temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula range from -2°C to 5°C. In the Ross Sea it can be much colder, with temperatures dropping to -20 ° C.

A most adventurous time. On one of the first ships you will sail through waters still covered in ice, watching the snow covered shores. Penguins at this time return to their colonies after a long journey and begin building their nests. You may see a lot of ice and snow early in the season, which adds a special charm to the landscape, but ice can certainly also be a hindrance to your itinerary.

December and January are the warmest months and the weather is the best for visiting Antarctica. This is when the first penguin cubs hatch. You will be treated to almost 24 hours of daylight. Many cruise ships offer holiday trips, capturing Antarctica’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

February and March provide optimal conditions for whale watching. In mid-March, the season in Antarctica ends and winter sets in.

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Ross Shelf Glacier

The Ross Shelf Glacier is the hallmark of Antarctica. For many years, it was the reason why explorers could not go deep into the continent – it stood as an impregnable rock in the way of ships that broke through the Antarctic pack ice, invariably forcing the pioneers to turn back. It is not surprising that it was called no other name than “barrier”. And the first to do it was the Englishman James Ross, after whom the “barrier” was later named. The honor of crossing the Ross Ice Shelf belongs to Scott and Amundsen: the former thoroughly explored the shelf and its surroundings, and the latter founded here a stationary base for the expedition to the South Pole.

Today one can see the Ross Ice Shelf within the framework of Antarctic cruises starting from New Zealand – it is the closest to this archipelago where the glacier is located. The journey across East Antarctica lasts about a month, the ice shelf glacier is reached approximately on the 15th day of the journey. A helicopter flight to the glacier is offered from the ship. The sheer wall of clear-blue ice plunging into the sea from 30-50 meters height is really a magnificent and fantastic sight!

Ronne-Filchner Shelf Glacier

The second largest ice shelf glacier in Antarctica, bearing the complex and proud name of Ronne-Filchner, is only slightly less picturesque than its counterpart, named in honor of James Ross. The Ronne-Filchner Shelf Glacier is located in West Antarctica and rises as a formidable giant above the Weddell Sea. Its impressive size – 200 by 450 km and 30 meters above sea level – make the surrounding scenery one of the most desirable for contemplation in Antarctica.

The closest “big land” to the glacier is Argentina, so Ronne-Filchner is home to Argentina’s Belgrano Polar Research Station, currently Argentina’s southernmost station on Earth with a population of 21. Soviet, American and British stations once operated nearby. By the way, it was the Soviet station on a giant iceberg that “broke away” from the Ronne-Filchner glacier in 1986 and was carried into the ocean. You can see the glacier as part of an Antarctic cruise starting from Ushuaia.

Larsen Shelf Glacier

The closest glacier to “civilization” and accessible for sightseeing, the Larsen Ice Shelf, is located almost at the very end of the Antarctic Peninsula. Its vicinity is one of the indispensable points of the route of expedition ships in Antarctic cruises. Alas, the Larsen ice shelf cannot boast of crazy views (it cannot compete with Ross and Ronne-Filchner), but even here there is something to see. Its main “feature” is the visible result of global warming of the Earth’s climate. Once the Larsen Ice Shelf consisted of three large glaciers, but with the increase in temperature it began to lose significant masses of ice. Amazingly, the process of destruction took just over a month, despite the fact that the glacier had been growing for the past ten thousand years – an unfortunate testament to the fragility of nature. The nearby Weddell Sea immediately acquired an extra thousand icebergs, and tourists got an opportunity to see a considerable number of weighty fragments of blue-blue ice floating in the ocean.

McMurdo Shelf Glacier

The McMurdo Shelf Glacier is actually a part of its neighbor and “big brother”. the Ross Ice Shelf. Among Antarctic explorers and enthusiastic travelers it is known first of all not for its landscapes (although they should not be underestimated), but for the fact that it is home to the “capital of Antarctica” – the largest research station McMurdo, owned by the United States, with more than a hundred buildings.

The McMurdo Glacier is only 12 geographical degrees away from the South Pole; it is about 3500 km to the nearest “big land” – New Zealand. Despite the thick ice “bedding”, the climate here is very mild for Antarctica: about -3 … -5 ° C in summer and, as a rule, not lower than -30 ° C in winter. Tourists visit the McMurdo Glacier during their cruises in East Antarctica, usually in January-February, when the coastal waters are free of ice. By the way, according to scientists’ research, there is life in the thickness of the shelf glacier – some almost invisible crustacean worms were found there.

Shackleton Shelf Glacier

Named after the famous British polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, a participant of four Antarctic expeditions, the Shackleton Ice Shelf is inaccessible for tourists traveling to Antarctica on board a ship. It lies in one of the most inaccessible areas of Antarctica – at its extreme eastern point, on the coast of Queen Mary Land. Its impressive length – about 440 km – and remarkable width of almost 170 km make it one of the most picturesque on the icy continent, but only scientists and professional polar explorers have an opportunity to admire this natural beauty. Pale blue ice, rising above the sea to a height of up to 35 meters, and giant 300-meter ice domes crowning its surface, together with icebergs periodically breaking off with a dry crack – this is the portrait of the Shackleton Ice Shelf. And the total thickness of its ice, including the underwater part, is approaching 200 meters.

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Analysis of Antarctic ice cores and marine sediments shows that the Antarctic ice sheet has grown and shrunk throughout geological history. Over the past 800,000 years, the Earth has experienced eight ice cycles (each with an ice age and a warm period). Understanding this natural rhythm helps scientists get a better picture of what is happening to the Earth’s climate today and what might happen in the future.

Is Antarctica warming?

Antarctica covers an area larger than Europe, and so there are naturally marked spatial variations in temperature trends. Many long-term measurements at Antarctic research stations show no significant warming or cooling trends, and temperatures across much of the continent have been relatively stable over the past few decades. However, the Antarctic Peninsula and large parts of West Antarctica warmed significantly during the second half of the 20th century, although the warming stabilized in the early 21st century, reflecting the large climate variability in the region.

Despite warmer sea surface and air temperatures over the Southern Ocean, there was a slight overall increase in Antarctic sea ice extent from 1979 to 2014. After that, the sea ice area declined sharply and has since shown significant year-to-year fluctuations, but with a roughly smaller average area. It is believed that these fluctuations are related to changes in atmospheric weather patterns. In contrast, the collapse of the ice shelf (floating glacier extensions) and the decrease in land ice near coastal West Antarctica were caused by warm ocean currents flowing under the ice shelf.

What are the drivers of Antarctic climate change?

We now know that the Antarctic ozone hole has had a profound impact on the Antarctic climate that goes far beyond increasing levels of ultraviolet radiation. As stratospheric ozone concentrations have fallen, temperatures over the continent have also fallen. This creates a greater temperature difference between the tropics and the Antarctic, which affects weather patterns in the Southern Hemisphere. For example, since 1980, winds over the Southern Ocean have increased by about 15%. This has reduced the heating effect of greenhouse gases, affecting the heat balance of the Antarctic atmosphere; heating by flowing inward from lower latitudes and cooling by radiating heat into space. These atmospheric changes have affected the Southern Ocean, which has experienced warming and freshening since the mid-20th century, partly caused by the ozone hole, and a significant role in increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.

The Antarctic climate is also influenced by tropical ocean and atmospheric conditions. Tropical storms and monsoons create waves high in the atmosphere that move to higher latitudes and disrupt polar weather. Evidence now suggests that these processes are linked to the warming of West Antarctica observed in the late 20th century.

What caused the collapse of the shelf glacier around the Antarctic Peninsula?

The Antarctic Peninsula, a long mountainous landmass protruding above the main continent, has experienced dramatic climate change. The eastern part of the Antarctic Peninsula is very sensitive to climate change. Stronger westerly winds in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula, caused mainly by a decrease in stratospheric ozone, have caused marked regional summer warming, which led to the widely publicized retreat and collapse of the northern Larsen Ice Shelf. In October 2006, BAS scientists published the first direct evidence linking human activity to the collapse of the northern Antarctic Peninsula ice shelf in the Journal of Climate.

Climate data from the Antarctic Peninsula show that temperatures in this region rose by about 3.2°C in the second half of the 20th century – more than 3 times the global average – an increase only seen in the Arctic. BAS research has also shown that sea temperatures west of the Antarctic Peninsula have risen by more than 1°C over the same period. It is now generally accepted that the waters of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current are warming faster than the world’s oceans as a whole.

What is the contribution of human activity?

The ozone hole and global warming have changed weather patterns in the Antarctic so that stronger westerly winds force warm air to move eastward over the Antarctic Peninsula’s 2 km high mountain chain. When this happens in summer, temperatures in the northeast of the peninsula rise by about 5°C. In the summer of 2002, this created conditions that favored the drainage of meltwater into crevasses on the Larsen Ice Shelf, a key process that led to its collapse.

What’s next?

Over the next century, despite the expected recovery of ozone in the stratosphere over Antarctica, the effects of increased greenhouse gas emissions are likely to dominate even more and contribute to further strengthening and shifting of the western poles and warming of Antarctica.

It is important that society and political leaders have access to the best scientific evidence and understanding of the likely extent and impacts of global climate change. Reliable observations of past and present climate are needed to attribute observed changes to natural environmental events or to human activity. Many international efforts are aimed at using and improving sophisticated climate models to create better predictions of future changes.

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Most animals are migratory, as the continent’s climate is too challenging for permanent residence and wintering.

At the same time, many species are only found in Antarctica (animals that only live in one area are called endemic) and have managed to adapt perfectly to the harsh environment. Since Antarctica was only discovered 200 years ago, the local species are not used to human company, which leads to one of the most amazing features of Antarctica’s wildlife: humans are as interesting to them as they are to people. For visitors, this means that most of the animals can be approached and will not run away, and for researchers, it is an opportunity to better study Antarctica’s fauna. However, you need to consider the fact that Antarctic treaties prohibit touching wild animals!

Whales

Whales are some of the most mysterious and amazing creatures on Earth. The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on the planet, with a weight of over 100 tons, they easily outweigh the heaviest dinosaurs. Even an “ordinary” whale is enormous in size and is considered a truly impressive creation of nature. Whales are huge but elusive mammals and are difficult to study. They are highly intelligent, with complex social lives and complete freedom of movement.

Whales belong to a group of mammals called cetaceans, along with dolphins and porpoises. They are as much mammals as humans, dogs, cats, elephants, and others. That is, they cannot be called fish. Whales breathe air and therefore must rise to the surface at regular intervals to take a breath. They give birth to live calves that stay with the mother for a year and feed on her milk. Whales are warm-blooded and have a similar skeleton to humans (although highly modified).

Kerguelen harbor seal

The Kerguelen harbor seal belongs to the family known as the long-eared seals (Otariidae), which includes harbor seals and sea lions.

In appearance and manner, these mammals resemble a large dog. They are able to tuck their hind flippers under their bodies and lift their weight with their front flippers, so are much more flexible on land compared to other pinnipeds.

Males reach a mass of 200 kg and are 4-times larger than females. They are restricted mainly to the sub-Antarctic islands, with 95% of the population on South Georgia Island.

Sea leopard

Named the sea leopard because of the spots across its body, it is one of the largest predators in Antarctica. Males weigh up to 300 kg and females weigh 260-500 kg. The body length of males varies between 2.8-3.3 meters and females 2.9-3.8 meters.

The diet of sea leopards is very diverse. They can eat any animal they are capable of killing. The diet consists of fish, squid, penguins, birds and baby seals.

Crab-eating seal

Crab-eating seals are believed to be the most numerous large mammals on the continent. Adults weigh 200-300 kg and have a body length of about 2.6 meters. Sexual dimorphism in these seals is not pronounced. They are rather solitary animals, but can lie in small groups, which gives the impression of a social family. Real bonding is possible between mothers and their pups.

They do not feed on crabs, despite their name. Their diet consists of 95% Antarctic krill, with squid and fish making up the rest. They are well adapted to catching krill thanks to their teeth, which form a sieve to catch prey out of the water.

Weddell seal

Weddell seals are mammals that live on the ice. The weight of adults varies between 400-450 kg, and the body length is 2.9 m (males) and 3.3 m (females).

They feed mainly on fish, but also on squid and invertebrates in much smaller quantities. Weddell seals are excellent divers, they are able to dive to a depth of 600 meters and spend up to 82 minutes underwater.

The population size of these animals is difficult to estimate, as they live near the Arctic Circle and on drifting ice.

Southern sea elephant

Southern elephant seals are the largest of all seals and show marked sexual dimorphism. Males range in weight from 1,500-3,700 kg and females from 350-800 kg. The body length of males is 4.5-5.8 m and females 2.8 m.

The diet consists mainly of squid, but fish is also present (about 75% squid and up to 25% fish). Males tend to move farther south in pursuit of their prey.

The Antarctic Tern is a typical representative of the tern family. It is a small bird 31-38 cm long, weighing 95-120 g, with a wingspan of 66-77 cm. Its beak is usually dark red or blackish. The plumage is mostly light gray or white, with a black “cap” on the head. The wing tips of this tern are grayish-black.

Antarctic blue-eyed cormorant

The Antarctic blue-eyed cormorant is the only member of the cormorant family found in Antarctica. They inhabit along the South Antillean Ridge and the Antarctic Peninsula, moving deeper to the south. These cormorants are characterized by brightly colored eyes and an orange-yellow outgrowth at the base of the beak, which becomes especially large and bright during the breeding season. Body weight ranges from 1.8-3.5 kg, with males slightly heavier than females. Body length ranges from 68 to 76 cm, and wingspan is about 1.1 m.

White plover

The white plover is one of two species of the genus Chionidae. It prefers a terrestrial lifestyle. When walking, it nods its head like a pigeon. Its body weight ranges from 460 to 780 g, its body length is 34-41 cm, and its wingspan is 75-80 cm.

The white plover has no webbed feet, so it finds its food on the ground. It is omnivorous and characterized by kleptoparasitism (steals krill and fish from penguins, and sometimes eats eggs and chicks). It also feeds on carrion and animal feces, and where possible, human waste.

Cape pigeon

The cape dove belongs to the petrel family. It weighs up to 430 g, with a body length of 39 cm and a wingspan of 86 cm. The color of the feathers of this bird is black and white.

The Cape pigeon feeds on krill, fish, squid, carrion and waste from ships, if available. They usually catch prey on the surface of the water, but sometimes dive shallowly.

Snow petrel

Snow petrels are white birds with black beaks and eyes. They are about the size of a pigeon, and are probably the most beautiful of all Antarctic birds. Their body length is 30-40 cm, wingspan 75-95 cm, and weight 240-460 g.

They feed mainly on krill and must always be close to the sea to have access to food. They are found along the coast of Antarctica, and are known to nest far inland (up to 325 km from the coast), in mountains that protrude above the surrounding ice.

Wandering albatross

The wandering albatross is the bird with the longest wingspan (3.1 to 3.5 meters). This bird can make long flights of 10 to 20 days, up to 10,000 km, using barely more energy than when sitting on the nest.

Average weight ranges from 5.9 to 12.7 kg, males being about 20% heavier than females. Body length varies from 107 to 135 cm.

The diet is based on fish, squid and crustaceans. The bird hunts at night on the surface of the water or by shallow diving. Wandering albatrosses follow boats and vessels of any type where food is dropped. This is especially true of fishing vessels that dump fish waste overboard.

South Polar Skua

The South Polar Skua is a fairly large-sized bird. The average weight of males is 900-1600 g, and they tend to be slightly smaller and lighter than females. Average length: 50-55 cm, and wingspan 130-140 cm. They nest in continental Antarctica and breed far to the south. These birds have been recorded at the South Pole.

They feed mainly on fish and krill, although penguin eggs, chicks and carrion may also be included in the diet, depending on the habitat. South polar skuas have been observed stealing fish from other bird species.

Southern Giant Petrel

The southern giant petrel is a bird of prey in the petrel family. Their weight is 5 kg and their body length is 87 cm. The wingspan varies between 180 and 205 cm.

The diet consists of dead seal and penguin carcasses, carrion, squid, krill, crustaceans, and waste from ships or fishing boats.

These birds are most often found on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. They nest on open ground in the Falkland Islands.

Emperor penguin

Emperor penguins are the largest penguins in the world, with an average weight of about 30 kg, (but can reach up to 40 kg), and a height of 1.15 m. Males and females have similar coloration and body size. The back and head are black, the belly is white, the breast is pale yellow, and there are patches of bright yellow in the ear area. Like all penguins, it is wingless, with a streamlined body, and wings flattened into flippers for its marine habitat.

Its diet consists mainly of fish, but may also include crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. When hunting, these birds can stay underwater for up to 18 minutes and dive to depths of 535 meters. It has some adaptations for this, including unusually structured hemoglobin, hard bones, and the possibility of a lower metabolism.

Royal penguin

The king penguin is the second, largest, species of penguin after emperor penguins. It ranges in height from 70 to 100 cm and weighs between 9.3 and 18 kg. Males are slightly larger than females. The plumage of king penguins, is much brighter than that of their close relative the emperor species, but otherwise similar.

King penguins eat small fish and squid. They can dive to depths of 100 meters, but have also been seen at depths of over 300 meters. Fish makes up 80-100% of their diet, except during the winter months of the year.

Antarctic krill

The Antarctic krill is a member of the Eufausiaceae order, common in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. It is a small crustacean that lives in large groups, sometimes reaching densities of 10000-30000 individuals per cubic meter. Krill feeds on phytoplankton. It grows to a length of 6 cm, weighs up to 2 g, and can live for about six years. Krill are a key species in the Antarctic ecosystem and, in terms of biomass, probably the most abundant animal species on the planet (about 500 million tons, corresponding to 300-400 trillion individuals).

Belgica antarctica

Belgica antarctica is the Latin name of the only species of flightless insects endemic to Antarctica. Its length is 2-6 mm.

This insect has a black coloration, thanks to which it is able to absorb heat for survival. It can also adapt to changes in salinity and pH, and can survive without oxygen for 2-4 weeks.

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