Antarctica Travel Guide
Did you know?
The surface area of Antarctica is 5.41 mil. mi², which puts the territory in position number 9 in terms of the area in the world.
How far is it?
1. The site uses the Great Circle method of calculating distances between two points on the Earth
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The distance between Davis Station (AQ) and Washington D.C. (US) is 10181 miles
To calculate distance between your location and Davis Station click here
Country Comparison
Compare Antarctica to any country in the world and see key differences between them side-by-side.
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A Brief History of Antarctica
Important historical events that significantly shaped the nation's trajectory throughout the centuries
400 B.C.
Southern continentAncient Greeks suggest that a southern continent exists.
1773 A.D.
James CookBritish explorer James Cook is the first to cross the Antarctic Circle. He never sees the continent.
1820
First person who saw AntarcticaRussia's Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, England's Edward Branfield, and the U.S.'s Nathaniel Palmer all claim to be the first person to see Antarctica.
1840
Antarctica as a continentAmerican Charles Wilkes proves Antarctica is a continent rather than a group of islands by sailing along more than 1,500 miles of coast.
1911
The South PoleNorwegian explorer Roald Amundsen discovers the South Pole.
1915
Shackleton's Endurance ExpeditionExplorer Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, sinks after becoming trapped in ice. The crew is rescued on August 30, 1916.
1935
First woman on AntarcticaCaroline Mikkelsen, the wife of a Norwegian whaling captain, becomes the first woman to visit Antarctica.
1957–1958
Research stationsAs part of the International Geophysical Year, scientists from 12 countries establish 50 research stations in Antarctica.
1958
From coast to coastBritish explorer Vivian Fuchs leads the first expedition to cross Antarctica from coast to coast entirely by land.
1959
Antarctic TreatyTwelve countries sign the Antarctic Treaty, in Washington, D.C. It states that the land must be used for peaceful purposes.
2002
Ice breaks offA chunk of ice about the size of Rhode Island separates from the Larsen B Ice Shelf.
2008
Ice breaks offA 160 sqm block of ice breaks off from the Wilkins Ice Shelf, in western Antarctica.
Facts and Figures
Fundamental socio-economic statistical data pertaining to the country
Area | 9 / 232 Ranking | 5.41 mil. mi² It is approximately 147% of the territory of United States. |