East Antarctica

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/east-antarctica

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is East Antarctica?Constitutes approximately two-thirds of the Antarctic continent
2. How high is East Antarctica?Generally higher than West Antarctica, with significant ice sheet thickness
3. How many people live in East Antarctica?No permanent indigenous population; transient scientific and support personnel at research stations
4. What is the key natural feature?Contains the Gamburtsev Mountain Range and the Geographic South Pole
5. How thick is the ice in East Antarctica?The ice is about 2.5 kilometers thick on average, and in some places it can be more than 4.8 kilometers thick.
6. Where do penguins live in East Antarctica?Penguins, like Emperor and Adélie, live on the ice shelves and in the ocean around East Antarctica, where they breed and hunt during the summer.

Ice Sheet: A vast, continental-scale mass of glacial ice covering a land area, such as that of East Antarctica.
Subglacial: Located or occurring beneath the surface of a glacier or ice sheet.
Nunatak: An isolated mountain peak or ridge that projects through a glacier or ice sheet.
Antarctic Treaty System: A set of international agreements that governs Antarctica, dedicating it to peace and science.