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Difference between revisions of "Antarctica"
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East Antarctica lies on the Indian Ocean side of the [[Transantarctic Mountains]] and comprises Coats Land, Queen Maud Land, Enderby Land, Mac. Robertson Land, Wilkes Land, and Victoria Land. All but a small portion of this region lies within the Eastern Hemisphere. [[East Antarctica]] is largely covered by the [[East Antarctic Ice Sheet]]. | East Antarctica lies on the Indian Ocean side of the [[Transantarctic Mountains]] and comprises Coats Land, Queen Maud Land, Enderby Land, Mac. Robertson Land, Wilkes Land, and Victoria Land. All but a small portion of this region lies within the Eastern Hemisphere. [[East Antarctica]] is largely covered by the [[East Antarctic Ice Sheet]]. | ||
[[Vinson Massif]], the highest peak in Antarctica at 4,892 m (16,050 ft), is located in the | [[Vinson Massif]], the highest peak in Antarctica at 4,892 m (16,050 ft), is located in the Ellsworth Mountains. Antarctica contains many other mountains, on both the main continent and the surrounding islands. [[Mount Erebus]] on Ross Island is the world's southernmost active volcano. Another well-known volcano is found on Deception Island, which is famous for a giant eruption in 1970. Minor eruptions are frequent and lava flow has been observed in recent years. Other dormant volcanoes may potentially be active. In 2004, a potentially active underwater volcano was found in the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] by American and Canadian researchers. | ||
Antarctica is home to more than 70 lakes that lie at the base of the continental ice sheet. Lake Vostok, discovered beneath Russia's Vostok Station in 1996, is the largest of these subglacial lakes. It was once believed that the lake had been sealed off for 500,000 to one million years but a recent survey suggests that, every so often, there are large flows of water from one lake to another. | Antarctica is home to more than 70 lakes that lie at the base of the continental ice sheet. Lake Vostok, discovered beneath Russia's Vostok Station in 1996, is the largest of these subglacial lakes. It was once believed that the lake had been sealed off for 500,000 to one million years but a recent survey suggests that, every so often, there are large flows of water from one lake to another. | ||