Get ready to bundle up as we embark on a chilly adventure to one of the most mysterious places on Earth – Antarctica! This icy land is at the very bottom of the world, and it’s full of cool secrets waiting to be discovered. So, put on your imaginary winter coats, and let’s dive into some fascinating facts about Antarctica for kids!

Did you know that Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth? Brrr! It’s so cold that it’s covered in ice all year round. Imagine a place where it’s so chilly, even in summer, you’d still need to wear your warmest snowsuit. That’s Antarctica for you!
There are no cities or towns in Antarctica. Instead, it’s home to lots of scientists who stay in research stations. These scientists are like detectives, studying the ice, ocean, and weather to learn more about our planet. And guess what? In winter, they must live in complete darkness for months because the sun doesn’t rise!
Even though it’s super cold, some amazing animals call Antarctica home. You’ve probably heard of penguins, right? Well, Antarctica is where you’ll find Emperor Penguins, the tallest and heaviest penguins in the world. There are also seals, whales, and lots of different kinds of birds. They’re all adapted to live in this icy world.
Are you ready to learn more facts about Antarctica, this icy wonderland? From the bright blue icebergs to the amazing animals that live there, Antarctica is full of surprises. Let’s keep our adventure going and discover all the cool and interesting things about this frozen paradise!
Be sure to discover even more interesting facts with our Facts About Mexico and Facts About Penguins.

Facts about Antarctica for Kids
- Antarctica experiences extreme temperature variations.
- Antarctica is a polar desert with extreme temperatures.
- Antarctica is the best place in the world to find meteorites.
- Antarctica holds the record for wind speeds.
- The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, about the size of France and covering 500,000 square miles.
- Antarctica is home to many scientific research stations, as well as the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme.
- Antarctica is also home to the saltiest body of water on Earth.
- Antarctica is an island surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
- Antarctica has very little vegetation, mainly mosses and lichens that grow in ice-free areas.
- Antarctica is the coldest, driest, windiest, and highest continent on Earth.
- Antarctica contains more than 90% of the world’s ice and more than 90% of our planet’s fresh water.
- Mount Vinson is known as the highest mountain in Antarctica, with an elevation of 16,066 feet (4,897 meters).
- Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean, which is home to whales and seals.
- Antarctica has only two seasons: summer and winter, with six months of daylight and six months of darkness.
- There are two flowering plants that grow in Antarctica: Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort.
- Antarctica has a time zone called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is used by most research stations.
- Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, signed by 53 countries, promoting peaceful and scientific cooperation.
- Antarctica has no permanent residents, but there are research stations where scientists and workers live for a year or more.
- British explorer James Cook was the first to cross the Antarctic Circle and circumnavigate the Antarctic continent as early as 1773.
- Antarctica is home to the world’s largest piece of unclaimed land, Marie Byrd Land.
- Antarctica Has Plant Life.
- Husky dogs are banned from Antarctica because they may give seals diseases.
- Antarctica’s coastline is dotted with numerous ice shelves.
- Orcas (killer whales) are the top predators in Antarctic waters, preying on seals, penguins, and other whales.
- Antarctica is home to the 4th longest mountain range.
- In 1985, scientists discovered a huge ozone hole that grew in the atmosphere over Antarctica.
- Antarctica used to be as warm as Melbourne, Australia.
- Wind speeds in Antarctica can reach over 320 kph.
- Of all the continents, Antarctica is only bigger than Europe and Australia.
- Due to the harsh environment and limited food sources, only a few animals live in Antarctica.
- Antarctica has no native human population.
- There are no legal restrictions on travel to Antarctica; visitors must obtain permits from their countries of origin.
- East Antarctica is bigger and colder than West Antarctica.
- The lowest temperature recorded in Antarctica was -89.4°C (minus 129°F) on June 23, 1982.
- The first person to sight Antarctica was Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, a Russian explorer, in 1820.
- On average, the ice in Antarctica is 1.9 km/6,200 ft deep.
- Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole in 1911.
- Lake Vostok, one of the world’s largest lakes, is located in Antarctica.
- British polar explorer Ernest Shackleton undertook three Antarctic explorations and crossed South Georgia in Antarctica in 1916.
- Emperor penguins are highly adapted to cold environments and breed in Antarctica.
- Antarctica has a phenomenon called the aurora australis or southern lights, caused by solar wind.
- The Dry Valleys in Antarctica are some of the driest places on Earth.
- About 40,000 tourists visit Antarctica every year on polar cruises and exploration trips.
- The first woman to visit Antarctica was Caroline Mikkelsen, who arrived with her husband Captain Finn Ross in 1935.
- Antarctica was once part of a supercontinent called Gondwana.
- Antarctica has a mountain range called the Transantarctic Mountains, which divides the continent into East and West Antarctica.
- There are over 100 volcanoes in Antarctica, although many are inactive.
- In 1899, Carsten Borchgrevink and his team became the first to winter over in Antarctica.
- Under the ice, there are more than 150 subglacial lakes in total.
- Antarctica only has two seasons: winter and summer.
- Before it became a frozen desert after the Ice Age, Antarctica was a warm region with rainforests.
- Emilio Marcos Palma was the first documented person born on January 7, 1978, on the continent of Antarctica.
- The lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was in Antarctica.
- Gephyrocapsa oceanica is a type of algae that forms dense mats on the surface of Antarctic lakes.
- The highest temperature recorded in Antarctica was 15°C (59°F) on 5 June 1974.
- Scientists Compare Parts of Antarctica to Mars.
Do you have even more interesting facts about Antarctica for Kids? Share them with us in the comments!

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