Academic Reading
The frozen continent
AAntarctica, the continent surrounding the South Pole, is the coldest, windiest and driest place on Earth. Almost the entire landmass is buried beneath a vast sheet of ice, which in places is several kilometres thick and holds most of the world's fresh water.
BNo people live in Antarctica permanently, but scientists from many countries work there in research stations, studying everything from climate to wildlife. Under an international treaty, the continent is preserved for peaceful scientific research, and military activity and mining are banned.