OK, so maybe your class can’t really travel to the least explored place on Earth. But wouldn’t it be fun if you could? Here’s what it might be like to visit the icy continent.
Jim McMahon/Mapman ® (Globe); Peter Rejcek, National Science Foundation (Blood Falls); lin padgham via Wikimedia Commons (Shackleton’s Hut); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)
By the Numbers
In summer, the sun shines for up to 6 months straight and never sets.
In winter, temperatures can drop to as low as -128.6°F. (Your freezer is about 0°F!)
98% of the continent is covered with ice.
Zero humans live in Antarctica year-round. (Scientists visit
for research.)
Amazing Animals
Here are some creatures—aside from penguins—that call Antarctica home!
Spectacular Sights
Take a selfie at the South Pole, a marker near the southernmost point on Earth.
Visit the mysterious Blood Falls. The ice here is naturally a rusty red color.
Tour Ernest Shackleton’s hut, where the explorer stayed in the winter
of 1908.
Write Now
Imagine your class is planning an international trip. Use facts from the infographic to write a short speech convincing your classmates to consider Antarctica.
This article was originally published in the December 2025/January 2026 issue.
