Hostile Antarctica by Lucia Mitrova

Antarctica. The name comes from the Greek meaning opposite to the Arctic (pretty accurate). It is southernmost continent, 14.4 million square kilometers of ice and snow. Nothing but the unbearable white wasteland everywhere where eye can see. It should come up as a surprise that Antarctica is the windiest, coldest and driest continent on Earth.There is no permanent population, apart from the penguins. And some fur seals, mosses, lichen, few cold adapted plants and many types of algae. Scientists and soldiers come here only for particular period of time, to do their research or duty. Very important thing for Antarctica happened in 1959. In this year 12 (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the USSR, the United Kingdom and the United States) countries signed the Antarctic Treaty. To date it has been signed by 46 countries altogether. This Antarctic Treaty is a part of Antarctic Treaty System, which regulate international relations to Antarctica. This supports scientific research and protects continent's ecozone.Antarctica really has some hostile condition that everything living, breathing has to put up with.The temperature can be as low as -90 to -80°C. And even if you wouldn't expect it the sunburn is here a problem too. It is because the mass of snow reflects almost all of the light.Never mind the vicious conditions there have always been some people, who wanted to visit this continent. Lately it has been a group of British passengers. But Antarctica and the weather was not kind to them. Their ocean liner sank down nearby the South Shetlands Islands. Luckily all passenger have been rescued so they can return home safe and sound.

related story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20071127/tuk-shipwrecked-british-passengers-due-t-45dbed5.html

by Lucia Mitrova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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edited by Barbora Matulova