This ice-covered continent is actually a desert! So cold, the only creatures that
can survive here are a few Arctic birds and mammals with ’blubber’ like whales
and seals. Human researchers or explorers must wear special clothing and
goggles, to protect from frostbite. It’s dark a lot of the time, but on a clear day
you can see for 10 miles.
These are the largest birds, with a wingspan of 2.5 metres. Just one beat of their wings, and
they can remain airborne for hours. They can travel thousands of kilometres over several
days. Often found following ships, they mate for life and live to 80.
This small white ‘sea swallow’ flies all the way from Greenland to the South Pole on its
annual migration. He flies straight through Africa and Brazil (stopping off in the Azores), but
it’s been found that on the return he makes an s-shaped detour for more favourable winds.
It goes quiet, then all the birds all take off together at the same time!
This is a research station in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Presumably it contains lots of
birds. It is a research station used by climatologists (who study climate change). It’s 1000km
southeast of the Falkland Islands near Argentina, and can only be reached by boat or
ship-supported helicopter.
