Fragment Friday - Polar Opposites

The Corgis don't let snow and cold stop them. Any time is a good time for a game of bouncy ball.

Since we're in the grip of another polar incursion, I thought I'd cheer myself up by posting some facts on two places it's usually a lot colder.

1. Antarctica is more populated than you think. Check out the McMurdo Station Web Cams 

From the website: "The station has a harbor, landing strips  External U.S. government site on the sea ice and shelf ice, and a helicopter pad ... Repair facilities, dormitories, administrative buildings, a firehouse, power plant, water distillation plant, wharf, stores, clubs, warehouses, a science support center, and the first-class, 4,320 square-meter Crary Lab  External U.S. government site are linked by above-ground water, sewer, telephone, and power lines ... Temperatures may reach 8°C (46°F) in summer and -50°C (-58°F) in winter."

2. The name ‘Antarctica’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘opposite to the north’. Because it experiences such little rain, Antarctica is considered a desert. Antarctica is bigger than Europe and almost double the size of Australia.

3. What about the Arctic? Glad you asked -  from NOAA
"Scientific study of the Arctic historically has been conducted by "expeditions". The earliest expeditions had as their goal reaching the North Pole, finding a "northwest passage" for shipping, or searching for whales or other species that could be harvested. Recently, expeditions have been replaced by cruises on scientific research vessels, temporary manned camps on the ice or on land, or permanent manned research facilities. Most recently, capabilities for unmanned observation of the Arctic have been developed. These include satellites and automated instruments or sensors that can be left on the ice, in the water, or on land for weeks and months at a time."

4.  The name ‘Arctic’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘near the bear’.
As well as the Arctic Ocean, the Arctic region is made up of parts of Russia, Greenland, Canada, USA, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Finland. The coldest recorded temperature in the Arctic is around −68 °C (−90 °F).

5. A Comparison - The Antarctic is a continent surrounded by ocean. The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by continents. Antarctic -The sea ice accumulates annually and more than doubles the size of the continent. Arctic - Sea ice accumulates over several years. Antarctic  - The annual mean temperature at the South Pole is -58°F. Arctic - The annual mean temperature at the North Pole is 0°F.

Wyoming isn't looking half bad....