Facts about the South Pole

1. 07

   At 2,835 meters elevation, the South Pole sits atop a massive ice plateau that is over 4 kilometers thick in some Antarctic regions.

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2. 06

   Antarctica's ice sheet contains approximately 26.5 million cubic kilometers of ice, representing about 90 percent of the world's total ice and 70 percent of its fresh water reserves.

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3. 05

   The South Pole receives continuous daylight for approximately 6 months during the austral summer, from September through March.

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4. 04

   Atmospheric pressure at the South Pole measures only 660 hectopascals, approximately 35 percent lower than sea level pressure due to the extreme altitude and thin air.

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5. 03

   Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, established in 1956, sits at exactly 90 degrees South latitude and houses approximately 50 scientists during the austral summer research season.

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6. 02

   Temperatures at the South Pole drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius during winter months, making it one of Earth's most extreme environments.

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7. 01

   In 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole 34 days before British competitor Robert Scott's expedition.

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