The South Pole, the southernmost part of the Earth, which is located in Antarctica, is the point of the southern intersection of the axis of the Earth and its surface. The latitude of the South Pole is 90 degrees south, and it is the meeting point of all lines of longitude. Also, if you stand at the South Pole, every direction will be north. There are various interesting facts about South Pole that remain unknown by many people. Let us first find out who found the South Pole and then explore these facts.
Roald Amundsen and His Race to the South Pole
One of the most noteworthy international races of all times was the race to the South Pole. Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer along with his companions, left for Antarctica in 1911, and on December 14, 1911, he became the first individual to have reached South Pole. He won the race to the South Pole beating Britain’s explorer Robert Falcon Scott who reached the South Pole 34 days after the arrival of Roald Amundsen.
Few Interesting Facts About South Pole
Let us now have a look at some fascinating facts about South Pole.
1. Colder than the North Pole!
The South Pole is approximately 100 meters above sea level, but the ice sheet above the South Pole is approximately 2700 meters or 9000 feet thick. This elevation is responsible for making the South Pole colder than the North Pole. At the South Pole, -12.3 degrees Celsius or 9.9 degrees Fahrenheit was the warmest temperature ever to be recorded.
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2. One Sunrise and One Sunset
Earth’s rotation on a tilted axis while revolving around the sun causes sunlight to be experienced in an extreme manner at the two poles. The South Pole, therefore, experiences only one sunrise every year at the September Equinox and only one sunset every year at the March Equinox. In summer, the sun remains above the horizon and in winter, it remains below the horizon. Thus, in summer, this region has sunlight for up to 24 hours and in winter, darkness for up to 24 hours.
3. It is Constantly Moving
The South Pole is believed to be constantly moving from its location because of plate tectonics. When large chunks of Earth’s crust move around the planet slowly, bumping into one another and also pulling away from one another, the process is known as plate tectonics. The present-day east coast of South America was located at the South Pole millions of years ago. The ice sheet covering the South Pole tends to drift around 10 meters or 33 feet each year in the present times.
4. No Time Zone
The South Pole is the point where all lines of longitude meet and the sun is overhead only twice a year during the equinoxes. Time is calculated with the help of longitude or can be estimated with the position of the sun in the sky. Thus, the South Pole has no time zone. Scientists at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station are usually free to choose whatever time zone they want to record any time-related data at the poles.
5. Devoid Ecosystem
Antarctica has a rich aquatic and marine ecosystem. However, the South Pole is located at the center of the coldest and driest desert on Earth, has very harsh weather conditions making it extremely tough for the survival of organisms. The Earth’s southernmost point has no plant or animal life that is native to the region. Only stunted growth of flora which includes moss and lichen is observed there, and organisms like mites and midges can be found there. There are also no native species of reptiles or ants that are present there.
Conclusion
As is clear from the above-mentioned facts about South Pole, it is one of the most unique places on Earth. It is often claimed by certain countries, which include Australia, New Zealand, Argentine, Chile, France, and the United Kingdom.
However, the entire territory of Antarctica has its own Antarctic Treaty which imposes a complete ban on activities such as mineral exploration and mining and also has strict guidelines for activities like commercial fishing. It is laid down in clear terms that the entire region should be used for scientific inquiry and research purposes in order to protect and conserve the marine ecosystem.
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