By sienna smith Humpback whale. Emperor penguins and chick.

MAP Amery ice shelf. 62,620 kilometre Halley Research Station. Southern ocean. Rothera Research Station. Ross sea

This is the divided up Antarctic treaty chart of Antarctica.

Antarctic Treaty Antarctica is the only country in the world that has no nations and no one definitely owns any part of it. Although many countries have claimed parts. the Antarctic treaty is in charge and governs all the actions that people in Antarctica make. There are 12 nations that on the 1 st of December 1959 signed the Antarctic treaty in Washington D.C. The treaty is an agreement between countries to help keep Antarctica in good condition because if we don’t there be a significant rise in sea levels. Ever since the treaty was established lots of countries have wanted parts of Antarctica and help to keep it from melting. The treaty only runs for a certain amount of time and after that time is up there will be many countries that will want to sign the new treaty to help keep Antarctica in good condition.

Human impact on Antarctica Humans have had a very large impact on Antarctica over hundreds of years. They have impacted by whaling, sealing, fishing hunting and polluting. 50% of whales that were being killed had been coming from the Antarctic region. The fur seals were nearly extinct because people from all over the world were attracted to all the amount of marine life and were killing them by the dozen. The seals were finally protected in the whales that were being targeted were the ones people would get the most money and profit for. The humpback and blue whale were protected in 1960 and ten years later the fin and sei whales were protected. Unlike the seals the whales have not reproduced and will need numerous years to do that. Visitors and tourists are melting the ice when they decide to light a fire to keep themselves warm. They are also polluting the water when they come in by boat and are also helping to break the ice away. The scientists are trying to preserve Antarctica but yet they’re digging large holes to find how old some of the ice gets.

Did You Know… the scientific name for a colossal squid of Antarctica is Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. That Antarctica is classed as the biggest dessert in the world because it is dry not wet as many people think. That in many lakes in Antarctica below the water grow moss, fungi and algae forming an underwater forest. There are no flowering plants in Antarctica because it is to cold and harsh. That the wind in Antarctica is being tested because it is a potential fossil fuel. It only rains 8mm of rain in Antarctica Per year. The wind in Antarctica is being tested because it is a potential fossil fuel. Insects that live in Antarctica live in limited parts and numbers. Lichens grow on rocks which makes them look colourful.

Douglas Mawson In 1911 wile Scott and Amundsen had plans to conquer the extremes and as they were establishing their bases, Douglas Mawson was organizing an expedition to explore the southern ocean. After discussions over in Europe in 1910 Scott was willing to include Mawson in the Terra Nova Expedition. Douglas refused this offer because he wanted to lead his own discoveries. He was headed for New Zealand and Gauss Berg. On the 4 th of November the boat of Aurora reached Hobart and stayed there for a while. On the 2 nd of December the Aurora and its crew set of for Macquarie island. During the night a large storm hit the boat and enormous waves put them of coarse. Lots of the crew got seasick. by the 8 th of December the storm had died down. On the 11 of December the ship had reached the island they were looking for. They spent a few hours examining the island before returning to the ship. Many months later Douglas Mawson and his crew discovered Antarctica in 1911 at the age of thirty. His aim was to explore the coastal line closest to Australia.

What is hypothermia. Hypothermia is when the heat in our bodies drops. It usually is caused when your body is exposed to very cold conditions. Some of the things that can happen when you get hypothermia is parts of your body such as your nose, toes and fingers may freeze and fall of. To keep warm in the cold and harsh conditions in Antarctica you will need to take: warm shirts, warm pants, gloves, warm socks, snow parkers, warm blankets and hot water bottles, hiking boots, beanies and snow goggles. You will need to take food[ tin food]and water. So when in Antarctica remember to keep warm and don’t expose your body to the cold conditions to help prevent hypothermia.

Weddell Seals Weddell seals are earless mammals that live in Antarctica. The live on ice to avoid their predators the killer whale and the leopard seal. They are one of the most common seen seals in Antarctica because they are often found in groups. It is estimated that there are 800,000 Weddell seals throughout the Antarctic region. Both the male and female seals grow to around 3m long and can weigh up 500kg. A male Weddell reaches maturity from 3 to 6 years and a female from 2 to 6 years. Weddell seals peak breeding season is between September and November. They will normally breed in groups on vast spaces of ice to avoid their predators. When they are mating it is fierce competition between males. The seals have a varied diet which includes: Atlantic cod, invertebrates, octopuses, squid and sometimes krill. The leopard seal will feed mainly on the sub adults and pups.

NO MORE TOURISTS! When the ice breakers{ships} come to bring the tourists they break all the ice apart which doesn’t help preserve the ice but help melt it The fuel from the boat pollutes the water which could kill the animals. Scientists are trying to preserve the continent, but yet they are digging into the ice to find out how old it is. Boats leave behind old oil drums that may still have some left that can leak and add to pollution that could have been prevented. SO SAY NO TO TOURISTS IN ANTARCTICA NO YES

POST CARD. To Mum and Dad. It is absolutely freezing here and the nights are restless. There are only a few insects that live in Antarctica it is THAT cold. The other day we saw some rocks that were colourful. I asked why and they said that it was a combination of moss, fungi and lichens that live on Antarctica. Who would of thought that fungi moss and lichens could grow in such a cold place. When I got here I was expecting it to be raining but our guide told me it only rained 8 mm per year. It is really windy right now and I found out that the wind here is being tested because it is a potential fossil fuel. There are also no flowering plants in Antarctica. Tomorrows my last day and I can’t wait to see you. Love from Sienna ANTARCTIC ICE BURG!

THE END! S e e Y a L a t e r ! By Sienna Smith. So help preserve Antarctica.