Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent,
and has the highest average elevation of all the continents and this is
why it is not suitable for human settlement. The temperature in
Antarctica has reached ?89 °C (?129 °F). Although 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 organisms survive, including many types of
algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, protista, and certain animals, such as
mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades. |