A harsh and icy land isolated at the far southern reaches of the globe, Antarctica is the most recently discovered of the continents. Until the 1800s, no humans had ever set foot upon its shores. Today, it remains mostly uninhabited, but it is far from empty. Readers will meet the unique plants and animals that call this frozen continent home, explore its unique history, examine the environmental concerns it embodies, and much more. Features include engaging sidebars that highlight unique animals, landmarks and more; maps to show size, location and topography; glossaries; eye-catching images; charts, diagrams and more.