Millions of seabirds come to the
edges of this harsh but beautiful
world every summer.
Buried
under a thick sheet
of ice, Antarctica is a land of extremes where temperatures can sink as
low as -193 degrees F (-89 C) and winds
can reach speeds approaching 200 miles (320 kph) per hour. On
the edges of this harsh environment live millions of
petrels, penguins and other seabirds. They come to Antarctica
each summer to
breed, but leave before the darkness of winter descends. Only the
Emperor Penguins remain, huddling together for warmth as they protect
their chicks from subzero temperatures.
Emperor Penguins with chicks
But
during the brief summer, the Antarctic peninsula is transformed into
an
avian metropolis -.
albatrosses, cormorants, petrels,
skuas, gulls and seventeen species of penguins all depend on this
isolated world. Antarctica is also an international whale sanctuary: fin,
minke, southern right, humpback and Orca whales are all found in its
waters.
Other marine mammals include six species of seals - fur,
crabeater, leopard, Ross, Weddell, and southern
elephant.
ANTARCTICA IN
FIVE MINUTES -
FROM ELEPHANT ISLAND TO THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE - OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO
PICK
Although the interior of
Antarctica has
been cooling due to stronger circular
winds, the peninsula itself is
warming. And warmer ocean waters are causing a decline in krill - a primary food source for
penguins.
Orca or Killer Whale
Several
companies offer cruises to Antarctica, and many operators
combine trips to the Antarctic Peninsula with trips to the Falklands,
South Georgia or South Orkneys.
You can see more images of Antarctica and its wildlife by following
this link to our slideshow: ANTARCTICA
North America Central and North America provide
habitat for over 2000 species of birds and over 400 species of
mammals.
South
America Where do you find naked-tailed
armadillos, hairy-legged vampire bats, bare-eared squirrel monkeys and
big-eared opossums? On the diverse and biologically rich
continent of South America.
AntarcticaOn the edges
of this harsh environment live millions of petrels, penguins and
other seabirds.
Africa
Journey to Africa to explore some of
the world's largest and wildest game preserves.
AsiaCovering about 30% of the
earth's land surface, Asia provides critical habitat for many
wildlife species.
Europe In the cold Svalbard archipelago
of Norway, reindeer and polar bears still outnumber people. But
wildlife also thrives in Europe's warmer and more people friendly
Mediterranean climates.
Orca or Killer Whale
