Antarctica is over 58 times the size of the United Kingdom, and it is the highest, coldest and windiest place on earth. It is quite literally a desert much like the Saraha. Except instead of rain missing from the desert, here snow is missing from this vast frozen continent. Believe it or not it snows very little here. Nonetheless the icecap contains almost 70% of the world’s freshwater and 90% of the world’s ice! Huge icebergs break off each year from the floating ice shelves and half of the surrounding ocean freezes over in winter, more than doubling the size of the continent.
Only a few small plants and insects can survive on this harsh and rugged continent but many animals thrive in the surrounding waters. Fish, krill (a kind of shrimp), penguins, seals, whales, and many kinds of sea birds call Antarctica their home, however, the freezing temperatures and months of darkness make life for its few inhabitants an eternal battle for survival.
Antarctica has been a destination for scientists to explore and discover that started in 1957, during a time called ‘the International Geophysical Year’
At that time, scientists from around the world established research stations across the continent and surrounding islands to study earthquakes, gravity, magnetism, oceans, and solar activity. The cooperation and goodwill eventually lead to a treaty to protect Antarctica. A treaty is a kind of agreement that a representative from each country signs.
The Antarctic Treaty guarantees four things:
• Number One. Antarctica will remain open for scientific research to nations who agree to the treaty.
• Number Two. No military bases can be built on the continent.
• Number Three. There will be no testing of nuclear weapons or dumping of nuclear waste in Antarctica.
• Number Four. No claims of ownership are recognized or denied, and no new claims of ownership can be made.”
Hi I’m Sunny Pepper!
Welcome to my website!
I am 7 3/4 years old. I live on my family’s farm with my little brother Max, who is a “wanna be chef” in fact he has his own show called Max on Snax® and his own website. You can visit it, it’s www.maxonsnax.com. He is actually pretty cute but DON”T tell him I said that! I have to keep that brother-sister thing going. : )
We live with our Grandparents. Our parents work in the city and come to the farm on the weekends. We iChat and iSite each other everyday. I like to have lunch with my dad when I am not in school. Funny that we have lunch together when he is San Francisco and I am in Napa!
My Grandmother, Carrietta Merryweather is a very interesting young 67 year old. She e-mails me riddles every morning. We like to travel together. Sometimes she can take us places without even leaving the house. You could kinda say her imagination has wings.
Once when we were in the grocery store she turned the frozen food aisle into the Antarctica, because Max wanted to know more about penguins. Turns out there are a lot of different penguins. My favorite was Little Blue Penguin sometimes called the Fairy Penguin. He is the smallest of the penguins. Grandma’s riddle for that day?
“What wears a tuxedo but never goes to the prom?”
I can’t wait to see tomorrow’s! I let you know what she sends!
I have to go to school now but I’ll be back tomorrow. I hope you will be too.
Tootles!
Sunny
For more information contact us at info@sunnypeppersgoingplaces.com
Sunny Pepper's Going Places is a Beati Productions Registered Trademarked Property. All rights reserved.
