History of 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/history-of-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. What is the year of first confirmed sightings?1820
2. What is the first successful south pole expedition?December 14, 1911 (Roald Amundsen)
3. What is Antarctica?Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth, covered almost entirely by ice and known for being the coldest, windiest, and driest place.
4. When was Antarctica first discovered?The first confirmed sightings happened in 1820 by three separate expeditions from Russia, Britain, and the United States.

Terra Australis Incognita: A hypothetical continent in the Southern Hemisphere, theorized since antiquity to balance the landmasses of the Northern Hemisphere.
Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration: A period from the late 19th to early 20th century marked by perilous expeditions and intense competition to explore Antarctica.
Antarctic Treaty System: A comprehensive framework of international agreements governing Antarctica, dedicated to peace, science, and environmental protection.
Geopolitics: The study of how geography influences politics and international relations.