Interesting facts about the South Pole Is a great opportunity to learn more about the harshest and most inaccessible corners of our planet. For many centuries, people have tried to conquer the South Pole, but this was achieved only at the beginning of the 20th century.
So, here are the most interesting facts about the South Pole.
- The geographic South Pole is marked with a sign on a pole driven into the ice, which is moved every year to replace the mobility of the ice sheet.
- It turns out that the South Pole and the South Magnetic Pole are completely 2 different concepts.
- It is here that one of the 2 points is located where all the time zones of the Earth converge.
- The South Pole has no longitude as it represents the convergence point of all meridians.
- Did you know that the South Pole is significantly colder than the North Pole (see interesting facts about the North Pole)? If at the South Pole the maximum "warm" temperature is –12.3 ⁰С, then at the North Pole +5 ⁰С.
- It is the coldest place on the planet, with an average annual temperature of –48 –С. The historical minimum, which was recorded here, reaches the mark -82.8 ⁰С!
- Scientists and shift workers staying for the winter at the South Pole can only rely on their own strength. This is due to the fact that airplanes cannot reach them in winter, since in such harsh conditions any fuel freezes.
- Day, like night, lasts here for about 6 months.
- It is curious that the ice thickness in the South Pole area is about 2810 m.
- The first to conquer the South Pole were members of the Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen. This event took place in December 1911.
- There is less precipitation here than in many deserts, about 220-240 mm per year.
- New Zealand is the closest to the South Pole (see interesting facts about New Zealand).
- In 1989, the travelers Meissner and Fuchs were able to conquer the South Pole without using any transport.
- In 1929, the American Richard Byrd was the first to fly an airplane over the South Pole.
- Certain scientific stations at the South Pole are located on the ice, gradually mixing with the ice mass.
- The oldest station in operation to this day was built by the Americans in 1957.
- From a physical point of view, the South Magnetic Pole is "North" as it attracts the South Pole of the compass needle.