Why study Antarctica, what is rich in this continent?

Antarctica is the land of eternal ice and penguins. So, at least, it is represented by a large part of the world's population. But if life is practically impossible there (such as the inhabitants of the warmer regions of the planet are used to) because of low temperatures, why are they studying Antarctica? What is so interested in this huge layer of ice at the South Pole?

The history of discovery and study of Antarctica

January 28, 1820 was first seen the sixth continent. It was reached by a Russian expedition consisting of two ships headed by Faddey Faddeevich Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev. Before that, only attempts were made to find it, along with which many islands were discovered. This date can be called the first stage of the period when a comprehensive study of Antarctica began.

The next outstanding event on the continent of the eternal cold was the achievement of its center, and in fact - the points of the South Pole (they roughly coincide). One group, led by the Norwegian Raul Amundsen, and the second, with the head Robert Scott (England), in December 1911 and January 1912 respectively passed this difficult path and collected a lot of valuable information about the interior of the mainland. This greatest event was overshadowed by the tragedy: Scott's expedition died in difficult conditions just a few kilometers from the base, where they could keep warm and update supplies.

Later, in November 1912, a rescue tent was found tent with the dead bodies of the group members.

Study the mainland: goals

For what they are studying Antarctica, it becomes clear if we take a closer look at the features of this continent. First of all, it is a reserve of fresh water. On average, this is an ice sheet with a thickness of 2000 meters and an area of 14 million square meters, which is about 90% of the world's fresh water reserve.

More about ice

It is interesting that even in severe winter conditions, there is a place for lakes and rivers. The location of the continent is such that even at sub-zero temperatures, solar radiation can melt ice. There are "swamps" formed in summer from water and snow. They are covered with ice crust and make it difficult for researchers to travel to such an extent that they can not escape without help. In summer, streams and lakes also open, and with the onset of the winter period they are invisible on the surface, as they are covered with a thick layer of ice and snow swept by powerful winds. So, the two largest lakes of Antarctica are at a depth of 3000 meters. Now imagine how they could be detected? The work of scientists is indescribably huge.

By the way, about the winds. Their average annual speed is 12 km / h, but under certain conditions it happens that the speed reaches 50-60 km / h, and sometimes all 90.

Why study Antarctica? Because it's a completely different world. He is cold and beautiful, stern and fatal, he is full of dangers and mystery. This is in the first place.

Resources and location features

And now about the benefits. During the exploration of the continent, many mineral deposits were discovered here. When mankind spends all that other continents are rich, the turn of Antarctica will come. So far this is not happening in connection with the current Madrid Protocol (1991), which prohibits the production and extraction of any fossils, since the continent is important for the whole planet, primarily as part of the climate education system.

This is another reason why they study Antarctica, monitor the level of melting ice and more than once raise the question of the impact of global warming on the main "refrigerator" of the planet Earth. Surely anyone has heard of this problem.

And the last thing that Antarctica is studying for can be called one common word - science. Here, the study of the effect of the Sun in different periods of Earth's existence, tracking of seismic activity, testing of technologies for studying the Moon and Mars.