Climates

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The Antarctic

Antarctica is the

southernmost continent on Earth.

The South Pole is found in

Antarctica.

Antarctica is surrounded by

the Southern Ocean.

Most of Antarctica is

covered in ice over 1.6 kilometres thick (1 mile).

Because it experiences such

little rain, Antarctica is considered a desert.

The coldest recorded

temperature on Earth occurred in 1983 at Vostok Station, Antarctica,

measuring a rather chilly −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F).

While humans don’t

permanently reside in Antarctica, several thousand people live and work at

various research facilities found on the continent.

Well known animals that live

in Antarctica include penguins and seals.

Around 90% of the ice on

Earth is found in Antarctica.

Sea levels would rise around

60m (200ft) if all the ice in Antarctica were to melt.

The Desert

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There are a number of different definitions to describe a desert

but they are typically areas that receive extremely low amounts of rain.

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Deserts generally receive less than 40cm (16in) of rain a year.

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Around one third of the Earth's surface is covered in deserts.

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Many of the ice free regions of the Arctic and Antarctic are known as polar deserts.

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Only around 20% of the deserts on Earth are covered in sand.

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Areas covered in ice or snow can sometimes be called 'cold

deserts', compared to 'hot deserts' in warmer areas.

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The largest cold desert on Earth is Antarctica.

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The largest hot desert on Earth is the Sahara.

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The Sahara Desert is located in northern Africa, spanning 12

different countries.

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The Arabian Desert in the Middle East is the second largest hot

desert on Earth but is substantially smaller than the Sahara.

The Arctic

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The Arctic region is found in the northernmost part of Earth.

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As well as the Arctic Ocean, the Arctic region is made up of parts

of Russia, Greenland, Canada, USA, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Finland.

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Indigenous people who live in the Arctic have adapted to the cold

weather and harsh environmental conditions.

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The name ‘Arctic’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘near the bear’.

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The coldest recorded temperature in the Arctic is around −68

°C (−90 °F).

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Over recent years, the Arctic region has shrunk due to global

warming.

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Small shrubs can grow in warmer parts of the Arctic, as well as

various herbs, mosses and lichens.

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A number of different types of animals make their home in the

arctic, including polar bears, wolverines, squirrels, birds, walrus and seals.

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The Arctic region is home to the North Pole.

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The Arctic has a number of natural resources, including fish, oil,

gas and various minerals.