Position relative to the conventional lines on the map of Antarctica. Geographical location of Antarctica: general information. Discovery and exploration of Antarctica

Antarctica is the only thing that caused virtually no doubt among numerous travelers who in ancient times set out in search of the sixth continent. The unexplored land was located, according to their ideas, to the south of Africa and Australia. There Antarctica was discovered in 1820. The geographical position of the continent is well known today. It is this that largely determines the severity of the climate and other conditions on the continent.

Antarctica: general information

In ancient times, Aristotle believed in the existence of a distant continent in the south. He supported his opinion with the theory that symmetry is necessary to balance its excess in the north. And, indeed, the ice continent is located in the south polar region. The location opposite to the Arctic region is even reflected in its name. The prefix “anti” translated from ancient Greek means “against”.

The geographical location of Antarctica is limited to an area called Antarctica. It lies within 48-60º S. w. The area occupied by the mainland is estimated at 13,975 thousand square kilometers. This figure includes both ice shelves and islands attached to the continent. If the continental shelf is also taken into account when calculating the area, the figure increases to 16,355 thousand km 2.

Edge and center

The geographical position of Antarctica is characterized by the presence of a long peninsula that stretches to the side South America. The northernmost point of the continent is located here. This is Cape Sifre. It reaches 63º13" south latitude. On the opposite side of the peninsula, the territory of the ice continent does not extend so far into the ocean.

The coordinates of the center of Antarctica are approximately 84º S. w and 64º e. d. It was called the “pole of relative inaccessibility.” Opinions differ somewhat regarding its exact location. In science, the pole of inaccessibility is the point that is maximally distant from transport routes, in the case of the sixth continent - from the coast. However, some factors, including features geographical location Antarctica has made its location difficult to determine. The coastline can be drawn at the “meeting point” of land and water or ice shelves and ocean. Because of this, the exact coordinates of the pole of inaccessibility have not been determined. It is often associated with the Soviet station of the same name, located at 82º06" S and 54º58" E. d.

In any case, the location of the center of the continent does not coincide with the location of the South Pole. If we choose the first of the indicated coordinates as correct, then the distance between them is approximately 660 km.

Highest continent

Although the 7th grade is studying the geographical position of Antarctica, few people remember how much the continent “rises” above sea level. The sixth continent is rightfully considered the highest. The reason is the impressive ice cover. The average height of Antarctica's surface above sea level is two thousand meters. In the center of the continent, the figure increases to 4000 m. The vast majority of this power is ice. Only 0.3% of Antarctica's relief is free from it. The surface height of the sixth continent is 2.8 times greater than that of any other continent.

Two parts

Ice-free zones include They divide the continent into two areas: West and East Antarctica. These areas are different in their structure and origin. East End- a place where fairly high plateaus of the continent are located, reaching four thousand meters above sea level. The western region is occupied by mountainous islands connected by ice. In the same area, on the coast Pacific Ocean, the Antarctic Andes are located, also exceeding 4 thousand meters above sea level. The most high point continent - Vinson Massif. It is located in West Antarctica and rises to 4892 m. The “lowest” point of the continent is also located in this part. This is the Bentley Trench filled with ice. Its depth reaches 2555 m below sea level.

Impressive cover

The physical and geographical position of Antarctica is the key to understanding all the features of the continent. It is the reason for such an impressive ice cover on the continent. A similar formation can be found in Greenland. However, the Antarctic ice blanket is ten times greater than this. The characteristics of this formation are amazing. Here lies 90% of all the ice that exists on the land of our planet. Its volume is approximately 33 million cubic kilometers!

The ice cover is a dome-like formation. The steepness of its surface increases towards the coast. The gradual accumulation of mass leads to the movement of ice towards its destruction (ablation, in scientific terms). For Antarctica, such a zone is the coast. Here the ice breaks off and icebergs form. Every year the total volume of destruction is approximately 2.5 thousand km 3 .

Peculiarity

As you can see, the geographical location of Antarctica and the glacial topography are inextricably linked. The placement of the continent caused the appearance of another feature of the continent. These are huge ice shelves. They, partly floating in the water, partly resting on the bottom, stretch from the shore into the sea. Ice shelves are the source of the largest icebergs in the world. Some specimens amaze even scientists who are quite accustomed to the wonders of Antarctica with their size. A good example is iceberg B-15, which broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf in 2000. Its area exceeded ten thousand square kilometers.

In winter (summer at this time), the area occupied by ice shelves is estimated at 18 million km². When summer comes, their area is reduced to 3-4 million km².

Ancient education

Researchers estimate that the continent's ice sheet formed approximately 14 million years ago. Not the least role in this was played by the erosion of the bridge that previously connected the sixth continent and South America. The “trace” from it is the Antarctic Peninsula. The same process apparently led to the formation of the Western Winds Current (Atlantic Circumpolar Current), which separates the waters surrounding the continent from the World Ocean.

Conditional boundary

The geographical position of Antarctica according to a local plan or map is determined, among other things, by its proximity to the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. In some manuals they directly border the continent. In others, Antarctica is washed by the waters of the Southern Ocean. Its conventional boundary can be called the current. The identification of the Southern Ocean is rather unofficial, although since the beginning of this century it has been increasingly found in the literature.

Temperature conditions in the waters washing the continent vary in the range from -2 ºС to +10 ºС. The Southern Ocean is a place of strong storms and winds. In winter it freezes down to 65º S. w. in the Pacific Ocean and up to 55º S. w. in the Atlantic region. However, some areas remain ice-free throughout the period due to strong winds.

Climate

The geographic location of Antarctica affects weather conditions on the continent. The planet's cold pole is located here. The lowest temperature (-88.3 ºС) was recorded by Soviet researchers in August 1960 at the Vostok station. Average winter temperatures vary between -60 ºС and -70 ºС. In summer the range is slightly different: from -30 ºС to -50 ºС. In general, the temperature here almost never rises above -20 ºС. The exception is the coast and its most prominent point - the Antarctic Peninsula. Here in summer the air can warm up to 10-12 ºС. In the winter months, the temperature on the peninsula drops to an insignificant level by continental standards of -8 ºС. At the same time, the movement of cold air masses Quite strong winds “awaken” from the center of the continent: sometimes their speed reaches 90 m/s.

Antarctica (the geographical location contributes to this) is not famous for high humidity levels. The average is 60-80%, on the coast it drops to 20%, and in some areas even to 5%. This fact is especially striking if you remember how much water is contained in the ice shell of the continent.

Once upon a time, Antarctica was covered with forests. According to researchers, there were rivers and lakes, mountains and hills, valleys and meadows on the continent. Today it is difficult to imagine such Antarctica. Its past is evidenced by some of the minerals discovered, in particular coal deposits. However, many of the resources hidden by the ice cover have yet to be explored. The harsh conditions of modern Antarctica, associated with its geographical location, do not allow us to quickly develop the vast territories of the continent. Perhaps this is why the international cooperation program began to unfold here. Researchers different countries together they try to comprehend the secrets of the sixth continent. And the degree of progress often depends on the ability to agree and coordinate actions.

Antarctica Antarctica Concepts Antarctica and Antarctica. The concepts of Antarctica and Antarctica. General information about Antarctica. General information about Antarctica. Iceberg. Iceberg. The history of the discovery of the continent. The history of the discovery of the continent. Geographical location of Antarctica. Geographical location of Antarctica. Discovery of the South Pole. Discovery of the South Pole. Testing students' knowledge. Testing students' knowledge.

General information about the continent The area of ​​Antarctica is 14 million square meters. km. The continent is located within the Antarctic Circle. This continent is the highest and coldest. The thickness of the ice cover is m. The ice of Antarctica contains 80% fresh water planets. Here the strongest winds and frosts reach 89° C. There is no permanent population on the mainland. The area of ​​Antarctica is 14 million square meters. km. The continent is located within the Antarctic Circle. This continent is the highest and coldest. The thickness of the ice cover is m. The ice of Antarctica contains 80% of the planet's fresh water. Here the strongest winds and frosts reach 89° C. There is no permanent population on the mainland.

Iceberg Iceberg Ice is slowly sliding from the continent into the oceans. Ice shelves break off and form icebergs - floating mountains of ice. There are table-shaped and pyramidal icebergs. Ice is slowly sliding from the continent into the oceans. Ice shelves break off and form icebergs - floating mountains of ice. There are table-shaped and pyramidal icebergs.

Russian sailing pattern Antarctic expedition G.

On January 28, 1820, ships approached the mainland for the first time. As a result of the expedition, the new continent of Antarctica was discovered and 28 objects were mapped and given Russian names. After 751 days of sailing, the sloops “Vostok” and “Mirny” returned to St. Petersburg on August 5, 1821.

Determine the geographical location of Antarctica Determine how the continent is located relative to the equator, the Arctic Circle and the prime meridian. Determine how the continent is located relative to the equator, the Arctic Circle and the prime meridian. In what climate zones is Antarctica located? In what climate zones is Antarctica located? Determine which oceans and seas wash the continent. Determine which oceans and seas wash the continent. How is Antarctica located relative to other continents? How is Antarctica located relative to other continents?

Discovery of the South Pole Discovery of the South Pole On December 14, 1911, Norwegian explorer Raul Amundsen and four comrades reached the South Pole. The expedition returned home safely. On December 14, 1911, Norwegian explorer Raul Amundsen and four comrades reached the South Pole. The expedition returned home safely. The English expedition was led by Robert Scott. They reached the South Pole on January 18, 1912. On the way back, R. Scott's group died before reaching 18 km. to the base where there were food and fuel. The English expedition was led by Robert Scott. They reached the South Pole on January 18, 1912. On the way back, R. Scott's group died before reaching 18 km. to the base where there were food and fuel.

Test yourself 1. Antarctica is: A) a continent B) an island covered with ice C) drifting ice 2. What effect does Antarctica have on the climate Southern Hemisphere? A) warming B) cooling C) moisturizing 3. Discoverers of Antarctica: A) F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev B) Roald Amundsen C) James Cook 4. An iceberg is: A) drifting ice floes of the Arctic B) ice floes rising from the bottom of the ocean C) continental ice sliding into the ocean 5. If the ice of Antarctica is melted, then the level of the World Ocean: A) will not change B) will rise C) will fall Answers: 1 A; 2 B: 3 A; 4 V; 5 B

“Geographical position of the southern continents” - Pangea 200 million years ago. Minerals of the southern continents. Soil map. Savannas and woodlands of Africa, Australia, and partly South America. How does geographic location affect the nature of the continent? Equator. Why do many rivers have many waterfalls and rapids? Red-brown soils of savannas.

“Lesson from the continent” - Parallels Equator. Oceans. Australia. Africa. At the very edge of the Sahara Desert are Egyptian pyramids. South America. The gray opossum is a nocturnal inhabitant of the Australian deserts. The platypus is an aquatic animal, lives in water, lays eggs, but feeds its young with milk. Continents and oceans. North and South America.

“Antarctica 7th grade” - First acquaintance with Antarctica. Modern Antarctica. Coal. Natural resources Antarctica. Iron, copper, lead ores. Lower plants Mosses, lichens, mushrooms, algae are the most unpretentious plants. Discovery of Antarctica and the South Pole. Countries exploring the mainland. Minerals containing bromine, tin, manganese, molybdenum.

“Flora and fauna of Antarctica” - Cryolophosaurus “ice lizard with a crest.” Make a list of protected areas and protected species. Calanus. Emperor penguin. Penguins. Tardigrade. Sea anemones. Killer whale. Blue whale. Sea sponges. Adele. Polar station Leningradskaya. Birds of prey Skua Albatross. Flora and fauna of Antarctica.

“Life on different continents” - Life on different continents. The fields with this plant are completely flooded with water. The largest beetle in the world, up to 18 cm long. They cannot fly, but they swim and dive well; feed on fish. Eucalyptus. Lesson: Life on different continents. Victoria region. Sequoia. Mosses, lichens. Antarctica. China. Penguin - Antarctica, eucalyptus -….(Eurasia, Africa, Australia, South America, Antarctica).

"The World of Antarctica" - Animals: Animal world connected with the oceans washing the continent. The average daily temperature in summer is no higher than -30 degrees, and in winter below -70 degrees. Ice cover Subglacial relief Climate Organic world. Discoveries and first research. Silent, deserted, mysterious, white, continent. Modern organisms of Antarctica are represented by mosses, lichens, microscopic fungi and algae, etc.

Hemispheres in which the continent is located: western and eastern.

Position in relation to the prime meridian: intersects.

Position in relation to the equator: south of the equator.

Position in relation to the Southern Tropic: south of the Tropic.

Oceans and seas washing the continent: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans; Weddell, Bellingshausen, Amundsen, Ross seas.

Names and coordinates of the extreme points of the mainland: northern point - Cape Prime 65° S, southern point - South Pole.

The size of the territory and the outlines of the coasts in comparison with other continents: S = 13.8 million km2, S = 16.4 million km2; this is 2 times the S of Australia; The shores are icy and large; only the Antarctic Peninsula stands out.

Position in relation to other continents: south of all continents.

The influence of the geographical location of the continent on the formation of nature: The position of the continent within the southern polar circle led to the formation of a harsh climate and the formation of an ice shell.

2. On the map, mark with numbers: South Pole (1); Weddell Sea (2), Ross Sea (3), Bellingshausen Sea (4); Drake Passage (5); Antarctic Current (6); Mount Vinson (7).

3. Use the arrows to match.

• The discovery of Antarctica was made by F.F. Bellingshausen
• Roald Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole
• M.P. was the first to land on the shores of Antarctica. Lazarev

4. Indicate what impact the following factors had on the nature of Antarctica:

• a) location in high latitudes: the harsh climate of high latitudes contributed to the formation of natural zones of Antarctic deserts;
• b) distance from other continents: isolation and formation of endemic species (lack of migration of species);
• c) the presence of a thick ice cover: poverty flora or lack of vegetation cover, respectively, poverty of the animal world.

Why is the glacier bed in some places below sea level?

The huge mass of the glacial shell submerged the platform in the water, so part of the territory is below sea level; outlet glaciers descend along the slope of the platform.

Why is Antarctica called the “refrigerator” of the Earth?

The mainland with the most low temperatures and max. volume of glaciers.

Why is most of the iceberg hidden under water?

Due to its large size and mass (the density of ice is slightly lower than the density of water).

6. Provide evidence that the territory of Antarctica is characterized by environmental problems.

Interest in the nature of the continent has sparked active research; human activities are expanding and negatively affecting nature; coastal waters are being polluted by active international transport.

7. Fill out the map “Natural zones of Antarctica” using thematic maps and drawings.

• Natural area: Antarctic deserts
• Soils: no or peat bogs
• Plants: algae, mosses, lichens
• Animals: 1, 2, 3, 4

What adaptations help them survive?

Accumulation of a thick fat layer, herd lifestyle, food extraction in the seas, dense, non-wetting cover.

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Lesson type: Learning new material.

Wall map of the hemispheres, Wall map of Antarctica, video, atlas for 7th grade, educational supplies, lesson presentation. (Presentation 1)

During the classes

Teacher's words:

The epigraph for our lesson will be a line from the poem by the famous English poet Alfred Tennyson “Fight and seek, find and not give up.” How do you understand it?

“And this unknown land of snow and ice lies beyond the southern polar circle, shining dazzlingly in the rays of the sun of the polar day or shrouded in clouds and whirlwinds of the blizzard in the darkness of the polar night. This region is beautiful in its own way, and anyone who has been there once will always remember the great silence of the icy desert.”

What continent do you think will be discussed in this lesson?

Recorded the topic of the lesson in printed notebooks. (Annex 1)

The word Antarctica is translated as “anti” against, and “Arctic” is the northern polar region of the Earth. That is, against the Arctic.

• What do you already know about Antarctica?
• Why does Antarctica have such features?

Geographical location of Antarctica.

In printed notebooks, the first paragraph provides a plan for describing the geographical location of the continent.

After reading each point, one student comes to the board and answers on the wall map of the hemispheres and Antarctica, and everyone else follows the answer using atlases, and so we will work with each point of the plan.

Let's read it out first point– Determine where the continent is located relative to the equator? – look and answer.

Answer: located further south, meaning in the southern hemisphere.

Regarding the tropics?

Answer: Not intersected by the tropics.

Almost the entire territory of the mainland is within the southern polar circle.

The position of the continent relative to the prime meridian?

Answer: intersected by the prime meridian in the west.

Yes, indeed, most of the continent, more than 70% lies east of the zero hemisphere, that is, in the eastern hemisphere, and only less than 30% lies in the western hemisphere.

We can conclude that the continent is unique, as it lies in three hemispheres. Remember which ones?

Answer: in the south, east and west. Let's mark the southern polar circle and the prime meridian on the outline map in a printed notebook.

Reading second point.

Find the extreme points of the continent.

Due to its geographical location, Antarctica has only one extreme point. Open the atlas “ Physical card Antarctica” and find it (Cape Sifre). We independently determined the coordinates. Mark the cape on the outline map in your printable notebook.

Reading third point plan.

What oceans and seas wash the continent?

Independently determined from atlases and signed them on contour maps in a printed notebook in blue.

Reading fourth point plan.

How is the continent located relative to other continents?

Answer: far from other continents, the closest to it are the southern part of South America and Australia.

Yes, Antarctica is indeed separated from other continents by vast oceanic expanses.

The position of the continent near the pole led to the formation of a thick ice cover, the average thickness of which is about 2 thousand meters. Due to the thickness of the ice, Antarctica turned out to be the highest continent on Earth. Due to its geographical location, as well as its icy shell, Antarctica is the world's pole of cold, where the lowest temperature on Earth has been recorded. Open your textbook to page 39 and tell me what temperature it is and where it was recorded?

Answer: At Vostok station, - 89.2? C.

We have given a description of the geographical location of the continent, studied its main features, and now we will get acquainted with the history of the discovery of the continent.

History of the discovery of Antarctica.

Under point 2 in the printed workbooks “History of Discovery”, there is a table that we will fill out. There are four columns in the table, look at their names.

Teacher's words:

Antarctica was discovered much later than other continents. Although even ancient scientists expressed the idea of ​​​​the existence of a continent in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere.

In the second half of the 18th century, an English expedition led by the navigator James Cook set off in search of the southern continent. He searched for Antarctica for more than three years, crossing the southern polar circle more than once, but he was never able to break through the ice to the mainland. Returning, Cook declared: “There is no southern continent! And not a single person will ever dare to penetrate further south than I did...”

Therefore, after Cook’s voyage, for 50 years, not a single ship went to those waters where giant impassable ice guarded the distant approaches to south pole. Let's write it down in the table under the number 1.

The Russians put an end to a long break in the exploration of southern latitudes.

On the morning of July 5, 1819, the first Russian expedition set off for the southern polar waters on the ships Mirny and Vostok. They were led by sailors Thaddeus Faddeevich Bellingshausen, who was the head of the expedition, and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, look at their portraits. They walked around the mainland and discovered many islands.

January 28, when the expedition reached the shores of the mainland, is considered the day of the discovery of Antarctica. We write it down in the table under number 2:

Do you know who was the first to reach the south pole?

Answer: Amudsen.

Let's look at the fragment. (Presentation slide 6)

How did you feel while watching?

On December 14, 1911, the south pole was reached by Roald Amudsen, and a month later by Robert Scott.

This was the greatest geographical discovery. They received the first information about the interior of the continent. Let's write it down in the table under number 3:

And under the number 4:

Checking the table:

Traveler, explorer	Country, homeland of the traveler	opening date	Discoveries and achievements
1. James Cook	Great Britain	1773-1775	First crossing of the Antarctic Circle
2.F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev	Russia	1820	Discovery of the mainland
3. Raoul Amudsen	Norway	14.12.1911	First achievement of the South Pole
4. Robert Scott	Great Britain	18.01.1912	Second achievement of the South Pole

But these achievements came at a high price. Robert Scott's group died on the way back, just a few kilometers short of reaching the base where there were food and fuel. Eight months later, a tent was found, half covered with snow.

At the site of Scott's first wintering place, a cross made of Australian redwood was erected with the names of the five victims, and words were carved into the cross. What do you think? - a catchphrase, which was the epigraph to the lesson, from the novel “Two Captains” by Veniamin Kaverin.

“Fight and search, find and not give up.”

These people are remembered by expressing their feelings in poetry, “In Memory of Captain Scott”:

Square iceberg. Black water.
And white penguins in black tailcoats.
A gloomy bastion of sparkling ice.
And the plains leading to death.
And it’s not the masts of ships that seem strange,
Captivated by presumptuous hope -
Break through the grip of sparkling fields
To the ground, hidden by armored clothing,
I see a bony hand
Frozen above the persistent and harsh,
The last, unborn word
The last entry of a stingy diary.
Land and people 1962

Throughout the journey, Scott kept a diary where he recorded all his thoughts and feelings. His last words were: “For God’s sake, don’t leave our loved ones.”

And after people died, did they forget about Antarctica? Or, remembering the difficulties, were you preparing for new expeditions?

Exploration of Antarctica.

Report from one of the students. Approximate content: In the 20th century, active exploration of Antarctica began.

During all this time, a large number of stations were opened. Open the atlas and look.

Find the Vostok station, this station was opened in 1957. You and I already know that the lowest temperature of the earth was recorded at this station. Remember which one?

Answer: - 89.2?С

At this temperature, iron also freezes. If you leave two axes on the street overnight, then in the morning, when you hit them against each other, they will break.

In 1957-1958, with the vision of the International Geophysical Year, 12 countries of the world decided to jointly study the continent.

In difficult times climatic conditions, several scientific stations were built in a short period of time. Look at the screen and find them - Mirny, Novolazarevskaya, Vostok, Molodezhnaya. They are located not only on the coast, but also in the interior, hard-to-reach parts of Antarctica.

The main and largest given time station - Molodezhnaya - find it on the atlas map. The Antarctic Aerometeorological Center is located here.

Antarctica does not belong to any state. There is no permanent population on the mainland - due to the harsh natural conditions. Any weapons tests or nuclear explosions are prohibited on its territory.

Antarctica is called the continent of science and peace.

Consolidation of the studied material.

• A crossword puzzle will help you consolidate what you have learned. (Appendix 2)
• Checking the crossword (Presentation, slide 10-17)

Homework.

• Find an explanation for the expression “Antarctica is the icy heart of the planet!”