The coldest, driest, windiest and highest continent on Earth, Antarctica is doing a good job of stealing all the superlatives. So we know it has penguins but no polar bears, research centres but no time zone, and loads of ice but no rain or snow in some areas for over 2 million years. But what else is new?
1. Tinder works here now
Looking for love? Numbers aren’t exactly on your side here, but don’t let that discourage you. Tinder found its first match in 2014 when two scientists swiped right and met up for a date. If things work out, you could always get married in one of the continent’s seven churches. BYO witnesses.
2. Mt. Erebus spews out gold dust
The world’s southernmost active volcano is a pretty awesome piece of geology. Not only does it have a simmering lava lake that steams and pops all year round; it also spews out crystals and microscopic particles of pure gold all over the White Continent.
3. There are two ATMs
No cash? No worries! Wells Fargo operates two ATMs on Antarctica. Unfortunately, they’re both in the same place. So unless you happen to be passing the McMurdo Station, you’re a bit screwed.
4. Global Warming is Actually Affecting Antarctica’s GRAVITY
Since 2009, when the continent’s huge glaciers started to melt rapidly into the ocean, small changes have been detected in the Earth’s gravity field. And while floating penguins may sound like a surprise upside to global warming, penguins are not meant to fly y’all. STOP THE MADNESS and please turn down your thermostat.
5. It has a Red Waterfall
The grim remnants of a polar, Game-of-Thrones-style Red Wedding? Thankfully not. Running slowly out of the Taylor Glacier, the crimson colour actually comes from the rock’s iron.
6. Leaders in gender equality
Or should that be… egg-quality? Aside from their impeccably fancy wardrobes, penguins are also pretty cool when it comes to equal opportunities. In Emperor Penguins, the male incubates the egg while the female goes in search of food. Then, after the egg has hatched, parent penguins share childcare and hunting responsibilities between them. What a world!
In similar news, Antarctica held its very own Womens March in 2017 which featured signs including Penguins for Peace, Seals for Science and Cormorants for Climate.
7. Let’s get surgical, surgical
For a while, some territories would refuse to let you work on Antarctica until you had your appendix and wisdom teeth removed. This is because of the antics of Russian surgeon, Leonid Rogozov, who became seriously ill with appendicitis there in 1961. With bad weather blocking any hope of outside help, he eventually performed an appendectomy on himself. He was back at work two weeks later.
8. Want to claim a piece of land? Give birth on it.
Argentina once tried to settle their Antarctic land dispute with Chile by sending over a pregnant scientist so she would give birth there. Silvia Morella de Palma gave birth to a son in 1977, who is now known as the first documented person to be born on the continent. Strictly speaking, the plan didn’t work. His brother was also born there 12 years later. It didn’t work then either.
Polar trips are usually once-in-a-lifetime type stuff, with Antarctica being the least explored continent in the entire world. Populated by huge whales, waddles of penguins (we love a good collective noun) and squawking seals, the wildlife is an attraction all by itself. But so is the vast expanse of ice and its gargantuan icebergs. Few people have ventured this far, making it the poster boy of intrepid travel.
Intrigued? Head to our guide to the best Antarctica tours page and book your trip now
