Antarctica, the fifth largest of earth’s continents, is the coldest, highest, windiest and driest of all continents. Located as it is, underlying the south pole, is one of the reasons it is among the world’s coldest regions. In fact Antarctica is almost entirely covered by ice, averaging 1.6 km in thickness. As this continent has about 90% of the world’s ice it goes without saying this is where you will find around 70% of the world’s fresh water. No wonder Antarctica is often known as the Great White Continent! The lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere on earth, -89.2°C, was recorded on July 21, 1983, at the Russian owned Vostok Station. Unconfirmed reports suggest that lower recordings have been made since.

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Quote:The lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere on earth, -89.2°C, was recorded on July 21, 1983, at the Russian owned Vostok Station.

You learn something new everyday. I never knew that there was an ex Soviet now Russian Station near the south pole. You would however expect they would have bases in the Arctic. Even more surprising, its located within the Australian Antarctic Territory

Quote:Chinstrap penguins are among the 17 species of penguins, all living in the Southern Hemisphere.

I also didn't realize that penguins are only located in the Southern Hemisphere

http://www.antarcticaholiday.com/antarctica-wildlife

Quote:I also didn't realize that penguins are only located in the Southern Hemisphere

Yes that's right, just as polar bears are only to be found in the Arctic region at the North Pole. Bet the penguins are happy they don't come across any polar bears where they live.

And to throw a whole new monkey wrench into things, there are also penguins in the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, South America, a tropical zone!

Tula