As it was a part of the Gondwana landmass, Antarctica has reserves of coal, hydrocarbons, Gold, Platinum, iron-ore, etc.
Detailed map of Antarctica depicts that 98 per cent of the surface is covered with permanent ice-sheets. Although precipitation is quite low, 90 percent of the freshwater reserve of the world is locked up here. The moving ice-sheets under the influence of gravity are called glaciers. In Antarctica the glaciers move down in five major drainage systems. When they reach the end of the continent, they are detached and form icebergs, which gradually melt into the ocean water.
Much of the continent is still unexplored. However, tourism in small scale has developed with the existing research stations. Travel Map of Antarctica can be a very useful tool for tourists planning for Antarctica. Online Antarctica Maps are also available for quick and easy reference.
Antarctica is the fifth largest continent and lies completely in the southern hemisphere and is also known as the "land of ice" since it is permanently covered with ice sheets. It is the coldest, windiest most remote and most recently discovered continent. It surrounded by the Antarctic Ocean that is a body of water made up of southern portions of Atlantic Ocean, Pacific and Indian Ocean.
As it was a part of the Gondwana landmass, Antarctica has reserves of coal, hydrocarbons, Gold, Platinum, iron-ore, etc.
98% of the surface is covered with permanent ice-sheets. Although precipitation is quite low, 90 percent of the freshwater reserve of the world is locked up here. The moving ice-sheets under the influence of gravity is called glaciers. In Antarctica the glaciers move down in five major drainage systems. When they the end of the continent, they are detached and forms the icebergs which gradually with time melts in the ocean water.
Last Updated : June 05, 2015