Antarctica is a cold, dry, icy, mountainous continent that surrounds the South Pole. Although few animals can survive the extreme conditions in the interior of the continent, the surrounding seas are home to penguins, seals, whales, and many kinds of flying birds. Because of a 1959 international treaty to use Antarctica mainly for scientific research, we are learning much about our planet’s past and future from the scientists and teachers that work there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"