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See Antarctica's South Pole, The Coastal Islands Killer Whales, Sea Rookeries, Penguins, Ice Three Miles Deep, The Skies of Aurora Australia
Exploring Antarctica As far back as ancient Greece, scholars knew there was an Antarctica. It was known as Terra Incognita-"the unknown land." For almost 2,000 years, the possibility of an undiscovered southern continent intrigued explorers. British Captain James Cook, in July, 1775, after a three year voyage to Antarctica and failing to reach the South Pole, wrote "ice extends to the pole or perhaps to some land to which it has been fixed since creation." Cook related seeing large numbers of whales and seals. In 1820 and for decades thereafter, European and American sealers and whalers exploited the southern waters. However the challenge to reach the South Pole persisted throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Shortly after the 20th century began, two men, Scott of England and Amundsen of Norway, engaged in a race to the South Pole that is unparalleled in history. Watched by the world, this race ended in death for the loser. But, because of that event, the world became aware of Antarctica. It is larger than the U.S. and Central America put together;it is as dry as the Sahara desert, and yet it holds 90% of the world's fresh water. The fascinating history of this desolate continent is captured in this video, which reveals the enormous contrasts of the landscape, and wildlife that survives in seemingly uninhabitable temperatures-numerous species of penguins, seals, killer whales and some very unusual marine life. This is the story of the least known continent on earth.
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