Country: Antarctida

Antarctica is a mysterious continent, all covered with blue ice, attractive and inaccessible. And therefore, probably, the most attractive for tourists who are thirsty for real adventures. Whether it will be kayaking among icebergs or an expeditionary landing on the Zodiac floating vessels to get acquainted with penguins, seals, fur seals, or watching mighty giants - whales - from the water - it's up to you! But unforgettable sensations from Antarctica are guaranteed to you!

Tours to Antarctica are expensive, especially if it's on an icebreaker or a luxury boat, but does cost really matter when it comes to a unique experience discovering this rugged region? Unlike the Arctic and the North Pole, there are more severe climatic conditions here (temperature fluctuations range from +20 to -91 degrees Celsius), while the flora and fauna are surprisingly diverse - animals and birds (albatrosses, skuas, penguins) are found by tourists in large quantities. Incredible combination of sky-blue icebergs above the edge of blue water and dark peaks of mountains leave the most indelible sensations!

Antarctica is the Earth's southernmost continent, underlying the South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the southern hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14.0 million km2 (5.4 million sq mi), it is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice, which averages at least 1.6 kilometres (1.0 mi) in thickness.

Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 inches) along the coast and far less inland. There are no permanent human residents but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Only cold-adapted plants and animals survive there, including penguins, seals, nematodes, tardigrades, mites, many types of algae and other microorganisms, and tundra vegetation.

Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ("Southern Land") date back to antiquity, the first confirmed sighting of the continent is commonly accepted to have occurred in 1820 by the Russian expedition of Mikhail Lazarev and Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. The continent, however, remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment, lack of resources, and isolation. The first formal use of the name "Antarctica" as a continental name in the 1890s is attributed to the Scottish cartographer John George Bartholomew.

The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by twelve countries. To date, forty-six countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining, supports scientific research, and protects the continent's ecozone. Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists of many nationalities and with various research interests.