8 Facts About Antarctica

1. East Antarctica makes up two-thirds of the continent, and is about the size of Australia.

2. East Antarctica is geologically varied, dating from the Precambrian era, with some rocks formed more than 3 billion years ago.

3. The only anomalous area of West Antarctica is the Ellsworth Mountains region, where the stratigraphy is more similar to East Antarctica.

4. The most common rocks in West Antarctica are andesite and rhyolite volcanics formed during the Jurassic period.

5. The first documented landing on Antarctica was by the American sealer John Davis, apparently at Hughes Bay, near Cape Charles, in West Antarctica on 7 February 1821, although some historians dispute this claim.

6. Some of Antarctica has been warming up; particularly strong warming has been noted on the Antarctic Peninsula.

7. East Antarctica is colder than its western counterpart because of its higher elevation.

8. East Antarctica is largely covered by the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.