Amazing Webventures: Let's Explore Antarctica!

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Antarctica: Land of Ice and Wind

Most of us probably won't ever have the opportunity to visit Antarctica, the highest, driest, coldest, windiest continent. You might read a book about it or watch a movie or documentary, but it doesn't compare to being there.

Come with me on an exciting Webventure to the land of 17 different types of Penguins! But first, print a map so we don't end up in Nothing, Arizona instead. (A thermos of steaming hot chocolate would keep our tongues from sticking to the roof of our mouths, too.)

*Iceberg photo courtesy of /www.coolantarctica.com/">CoolAntarctica.com Used by permission.

And We're Off!

But first, a little history...

Did you know, the Antarctic region was first discovered in 1820? At least that's the first written record we have by people who recorded their sighting.

We'll learn from real expeditions--adventurers in our very own lifetime, who have explored the area with computers, digital cameras, and have written emails or sent videos of themselves for us to enjoy.

Check out the following links. You'll discover Antarctica through the eyes of those who know it best! But first...take a look at the current weather in Antarctica.

Enter the Land of Ice and Wind

Are you shivering yet?

Polar Bear FAQ
How much do you know about those furry white bears that look so cute and cuddly?
PhotoshopNews: Photoshop News and Information » Antarctica Expedition
Follow a real expedition to Antarctica. Beautiful pictures!
NOVA Online | Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance | PBS
NOVA Online presents Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance
Antarctic Expedition
Follow this photographer's Antarctica expedition in 2005. It'll make you feel like you're there also.
Antarctic Philately: Antarctic Expedition Maps
shape of Antarctica and its relationship to the other continents is
a mystery to many people.
Two New Dinosaurs Discovered in Antarctica
Researchers working in frigid conditions thousands of miles apart simultaneously turned up two new Antarctic dinosaurs: a small carnivore found on the coast and a much larger herbivore discovered on a mountain peak. The find brings to eight the number of dinosaur species found on the southernmost la
The Expedition: Introduction | American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world's preeminent institutions for scientific research and education, with collections of more than 32 million specimens and artifacts.

Where IS it, Anyway? 

What Would You Miss?

If you were sent to Antarctica for a year's expedition, what would you miss most about life at home?

Working in my flowerbeds!

My backyard flower garden has become such a peaceful more...0 points

Reading chair

Everybody needs a comfy reading share!0 points

Sunshine day after day

Antarctica's cold would be hard to get used to I t more...0 points

Fast food!!!!

I admit it, I am hopelessly addicted to burger kin more...0 points

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TerraQuest's Maiden Voyage

Prepare for takeoff...

Antarctica is unlike anywhere you've ever been. From first glance, it will make your freezer at home seem downright warm. I hope you're wearing layered clothing because we're about to embark on an expedition with TerraQuest.

In 1996, TerraQuest's maiden voyage, a fully-stocked expedition ship named Livonia, set out for Antarctica from Ushuaia, Argentina. Eager scientists and students back home got to chat with them twice daily as satellites bounced their digital conversations to various destinations. TerraQuest was the first company to send live reports via the Internet! Everyone involved in the planning of this expedition were so excited! At last, their ship was ready to depart.

Check out their route, which was carefully charted by map, plus a day-by-day itinerary, which was available to everyone back home who was interested in following their progress.

Come along, and we'll follow the footprints of those adventurers today, thanks to the detailed records TerraQuest has kept. Learn about the Livonia, and how it differs from a luxury cruise ship. Not quite as fancy, and you won't find brunches and music onboard; however, you might be surprised to discover that the Livonia does have laundry facilities and a small medical clinic for its passengers.

And the bridge of the ship is open 24 hours a day, so expedition members can meet there often. They even get to ask the Captain what it's like to stand watch all night long. (Could YOU stay awake that long?)

Penguin Pals 

Poems from Antarctica

Warm words from a Chilly Land...

Ernest Shackleton was a prime figure in the exploration of Antarctica.
Few realized that he was a pretty good poet, as well. Read one of his poems here.

Want to try your hand at writing your own poem? Here's a site in the U.K. that explains different types of poetry and how to create good poems.

A poet writes a collection called Thin Ice: Poems from Antarctica. They're fully readable online, and the site has beautiful photos as well.

Learn about Penguin Studies

Look what's happening!

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In 2006, scientists erected an automated camera at Cape Royds, to record the comings and goings of penguins. They're especially interested in how many birds return to molt each year after the humans leave every February.

More on Penguin Research:

Books about Antarctica

Read & Learn more...

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Smile...You're on LiveCam!

A day in the life of a Leopard Seal...

If you imagined Antarctica as just ice, wind, and penguins, you'd be partly right. But did you know, there are so many other species of wildlife, National Geographic has created Crittercam Chronicles, an amazing website where we can watch the comings and goings (and everything in-between) of leopard seals in that region of the world.

What is a crittercam? It's a scientific tool that biologists place on an animal they want to study. If you were to attach a small camera to your dog, in order to record how many flowers he squishes in one day, and whether he's barking at the gate while you're away, that would be a form of crittercam. View the more technical version at Crittercam Chronicles, and see what this leopard seal is up to.

Crittercams Around the World

Animals around the world are vying for equal time with the leopard seal, so by popular demand, here we go. Apparently critters the world over are starring in their own shows.
The Arctic
What's life like in the Arctic for the bearded seal? Find out , thanks to National Geographic's Crittercam Chronicle.
Sperm Whale
Life in the deep sea is busy. Experience life as seen by a sperm whale fitted with a crittercam.
Thanks, National Geographic!
Bird Cams
Xcel Energy hosts several bird cams, including the Owl Cam, Falcon Cam, and Eagle Cam. Available live from February through May each year, they're an inside peek at the amazing life of these birds. After the hatchlings leave, the site still has plenty to offer in the way of video clips and information.

Bring Your Jacket! 

What's Cookin' in Antarctica?

Make Your Own Pemmican
If you don't have a clue about what Pemmican is, read on. (Only in Antarctica!)
Apricot-Almond Antarctica
Ok, I confess. This is not food from Antarctica, but it does have "Antarctica" in its name. And it sounds too good to pass up.
Roasted Penguin Breasts & More...
Seal brains? Roasted Penguin Breasts? Oh, there's more, folks. Much, much more...
Pegasus Cookbook
A cookbook of Antarctic recipes from an Antarctica outpost.

Why Do Scientists Love Antarctica, Anyway?

Antarctica and the surrounding areas are considered nature's lab for researching certain scientific projects that simply can't be carried out anywhere else on earth. It's extreme climate and vast polar ice cap make it unbelievably challenging. Frigid waters and unusual geologic formations have drawn curious scientists there for more than 100 years.

Antarctica is a lifetime adventure for meteorologists,atmospheric physicists, geologists, glaciologists, seismologists, geophysicists, biologists, zoologists, and oceanographers. Medical researchers are also studying the effects of the extreme cold on humans.

Below you will some of the unique studies that take place in this amazing ice-filled part of the world.

Meteorite study
See why they're studying the area west of the Transantarctic Mountains.
Mt. Erebus
Did you know there's a volcano in Antarctica?
Dry Valleys
Antarctica includes dry valleys that get no snowfall!
Scientists Learn Space Lessons
Australia's Antarctic base is teaching valuable lessons about space travel...
Runaway Ice Chunk
A runaway ice chunk in Antarctica leaves scientists puzzled.

Penguin Fun for Everyone

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Antarctic Blogs

Find out from those who know...

What's it really like in Antarctica? We've read the adventurous tales, seen the videos. Wouldn't it be nice to hear from an ordinary person like you 'n me?
Here are some blogs from people who have experienced that frigid part of the world firsthand. Makes me cold just thinking about it.
An electrical engineer
A live blog from Steffen Richter who's busy working on the BICEP telescope.
Live report from Antarctica
Men working on British Antarctic Survey ships report on everyday life and work.
Seal researcher
Here's a unique blog, from a researcher who spends his time gathering info about seals.
getjealous.com
A travel blog of a technician living in Antarctica. Check out the temperature report!

Time-Lapse Camera @Antarctica

A year on the ice...

Antarctica Time lapse: A Year on Ice
by Antzarctica | video info

3,454 ratings | 914,367 views
curated content from YouTube
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Solar Halo 

The Sound of a Glacier

That's some ice cube, isn't it?

Icebergs - Antarctic Sound
by xeniacolours | video info

54 ratings | 37,435 views
curated content from YouTube

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