Ross Dependency

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/ross-dependency

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 Ross Dependency?Approximately 430,000 square miles (1.1 million square kilometers)
2. What is the claimed by?New Zealand (claim held in abeyance under the Antarctic Treaty)
3. What is the key geographical features?Ross Ice Shelf, Ross Sea, Victoria Land
4. Why is the Ross Dependency so cold and dry?The Ross Dependency is hyper‑arid and extremely cold because it is far south at the bottom of the world. The average temperatures are far below freezing all year. These conditions make it one of the most inhospitable places on Earth.
5. Who discovered the Ross Sea and when?Sir James Clark Ross discovered the Ross Sea and the huge ice shelf in 1841. His finding opened the way for later explorers like Scott and Shackleton.

Meridian: An imaginary line of longitude that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.
Antarctic Treaty System: A comprehensive set of international agreements governing activities in Antarctica, promoting science and peace.
Sovereignty: The supreme authority within a territory; the right to govern.
In Abeyance: A state of temporary suspension or inactivity, in this case, regarding territorial claims.