🐧 Antarctica

Antarctica is the southernmost continent and the only one with no permanent population and no sovereign countries. It is governed by the Antarctic Treaty and holds about 70% of the world's fresh water as ice.

Countries
0
Area
14,200,000 km²
Population
No permanent population
Highest point
Vinson Massif (4,892 m)
Largest country
Smallest country

Antarctica facts

  • The lowest natural temperature ever recorded, −89.2 °C, was measured at Vostok Station.
  • Antarctica is technically the largest desert in the world.
  • No country owns Antarctica; the Antarctic Treaty reserves it for scientific research.
  • Its ice sheet averages about 1.9 kilometres thick.

Countries

Antarctica has no sovereign countries — only research stations operated under the Antarctic Treaty.