Ruqayyah Snyder
Antarctica is the world's fifth-largest continent, covering an area of 14.2 million square kilometres, including its islands and ice shelves. It is nearly twice the size of Australia, which is the smallest continent, spanning 7.7 million square kilometres. Antarctica is the southernmost continent, situated in the Southern Hemisphere, and is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | Antarctica is approximately 14.2 million square kilometers, while Australia is about 7.7 million square kilometers. Thus, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. |
| Population | Australia is home to a significantly larger human population. As of 2023, Australia's population is estimated to be over 26 million people. Antarctica has no permanent residents and only accommodates a few thousand temporary residents (scientists and support staff) at research stations scattered across the continent. |
| Location | Antarctica is a continent situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Australia is a continent surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres. |
| Climate | Antarctica has an extremely cold and icy climate, with average temperatures well below freezing. Australia experiences a diverse range of climates, from tropical in the north to temperate in the south, with desert-like conditions in the interior. |
| Terrain | Antarctica is largely covered in ice, with mountains, valleys, and coastal plains. Australia has a varied terrain, including deserts, grasslands, forests, mountains, and a vast coastline with numerous beaches. |
| Highest Point | The highest peak in Antarctica is Mount Vinson, reaching 4,892 meters (16,050 feet) above sea level. Australia's tallest peak is Mount Kosciuszko, standing at 2,228 meters (7,310 feet) above sea level. |
| Wildlife | Antarctica is known for its unique wildlife, including penguins, seals, whales, and various bird species adapted to the extreme conditions. Australia boasts an exceptionally high level of biodiversity, with iconic animals such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and an array of unique reptiles and birds. |
| Human Activity | Australia has a well-established human infrastructure with cities, towns, and a developed economy. Antarctica has no permanent human settlements. Human activity in Antarctica primarily involves scientific research conducted by international teams operating temporary research stations. |
| Sovereignty | Australia is a sovereign country. Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, which establishes it as a demilitarized zone and ensures its use for peaceful purposes, primarily scientific research. No single nation owns Antarctica. |
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What You'll Learn
Antarctica is the world's fifth-largest continent
Antarctica is the world's southernmost continent, and its name means "opposite to the Arctic". It is largely covered by a vast ice sheet, which is around 98 per cent thick in some places. The continent is divided into East Antarctica, a high ice-covered plateau, and West Antarctica, an archipelago of mountainous islands. Antarctica's ice sheet contains approximately 7 million cubic miles of ice, representing about 90 per cent of the world's ice and 80 per cent of its fresh water.
The continent is extremely cold, with an average winter temperature of minus 34.4 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth, minus 89.2 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Antarctica in 1983. It is also the world's driest, windiest, iciest, and highest continent.
Antarctica is a good place to find meteorites, as they are easier to see on the white ice. It is also a useful location for scientific research, with NASA using satellites to study the continent and its ice sheets.
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Australia is the smallest continent
Australia is also the flattest and one of the driest continents. It is highly urbanised and has the world's 14th-largest economy, with the second-highest human development index globally. The continent is sometimes referred to as Oceania, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and other islands in the Central and South Pacific.
In contrast, Antarctica, the fifth-largest continent, is almost twice the size of Australia. It covers more than 14.2 million square kilometres or 5.5 million square miles. Antarctica is the coldest, driest, windiest, and highest continent, with an average elevation of 2,500 meters.
While Australia is the smallest continent, it is larger than Greenland, which is sometimes described as an island continent. Australia's status as a continent is supported by geological, biological, and anthropological distinctions, as well as its significantly larger size compared to Greenland.
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Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia
The White Continent, as Antarctica is known, is the coldest, driest, windiest, and highest continent. Its average elevation is 2,500 metres, compared to Australia's average of 330 metres. Antarctica's ice shelves and islands contribute significantly to its size, with the ice shelves alone accounting for about 11% of its area.
The size of Antarctica is dynamic and subject to seasonal changes. During specific times of the year, it can even be larger than the values mentioned. The inclusion or exclusion of its ice shelves and islands in calculations also affects its perceived size. Excluding these features, the continent covers approximately 12.3 million square kilometres (4.8 million square miles).
Australia, despite being the smallest continent, is still considered an "island continent." This term arises from the fact that Australia is entirely surrounded by water, fulfilling one of the criteria for an island. However, geographers typically distinguish between islands and continents based on size, and Australia's vast landmass surpasses the scope of a typical island.
The significant size difference between Antarctica and Australia is evident, with the former being almost double the size of the latter. This disparity is further accentuated by their respective elevations, with Antarctica towering over Australia in average height.
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Antarctica is colder, higher, and drier than Australia
Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent, covering approximately 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square kilometres), which is almost double the area of Australia.
Antarctica is colder than Australia due to several factors. Firstly, Antarctica is situated further away from the equator than Australia, which results in less direct sunlight and lower temperatures. Specifically, Australia is located at 22 degrees south, while Antarctica is at 83 degrees south. This difference in latitude significantly impacts the amount of sunlight received, with Australia getting 8 to 9 times more sunlight per square meter than Antarctica. During the summer, the South Pole in Antarctica even receives more solar radiation than the equator due to its 24 hours of sunlight each day.
Another factor contributing to the colder temperatures in Antarctica is its higher elevation. East Antarctica, for example, is colder than West Antarctica due to its higher elevation. Weather fronts rarely penetrate far into the continent, leaving the centre cold and dry. Antarctica's average elevation is the highest among all the continents.
Antarctica is also drier than Australia. In fact, Antarctica is considered the driest continent and the largest desert in the world. By definition, a desert is a region that receives less than 25 cm of rainfall annually, and Antarctica meets this criterion. Some parts of Antarctica's interior have not experienced any precipitation, not even snow, in three million years. The annual precipitation in Antarctica is over 200 mm along the coast and significantly less inland. In contrast, Australia, being a large land mass with minimal internal bodies of water, heats up more intensely, and the lack of evaporating water contributes to the higher temperatures in the country.
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Australia is sometimes called an island continent
Australia is sometimes referred to as an island continent because it is a single landmass surrounded by ocean. However, this label is not universally accepted, and there are several reasons why Australia is typically considered a continent rather than an island. Firstly, size is a factor. While there is no agreed maximum size for an island, Australia is nearly four times larger than Greenland, which is widely considered the largest island. Thus, classifying Australia as an island would be an anomaly compared to other land masses classified as islands.
Secondly, geological distinctions play a role. While Australia and most of Asia lie on separate tectonic plates, Greenland shares a tectonic plate with North America. Australia is the dominant land mass on its continental plate, further supporting its classification as a continent rather than an island.
Thirdly, biological and anthropological differences between Australia and Greenland contribute to the distinction. A large percentage of Australia's plant and animal species are unique to the country, whereas fewer of Greenland's species are unique. Additionally, Aboriginal people are limited to Australia, while indigenous Greenlanders are part of a group of peoples (the Inuit) found throughout the Arctic, including parts of Canada, the United States, and Russia.
While each of these criteria may not be sufficient on its own to distinguish Australia as a continent rather than an island, together they form a general understanding of what qualifies as a continent.
In terms of size comparisons, Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent, covering approximately 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square kilometers) in area, including its islands and fringing ice shelves. This is nearly twice the size of Australia, making Antarctica significantly larger.
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Frequently asked questions
Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia, covering 14.2 million km2 (5.5 million sq mi) in the summer, while Australia is around 2.9 million square miles.
Yes, Australia is the smallest of the 7 continents.
Yes, Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent.
