WBBSE Class 6 Geography Class 6 Geography Chapter 6 The Ice-Capped Continent Introduction
1. Antarctica remains perpetually covered under a 1-2km layer of snow and compacted ice. Thus, it is called the White Continent and is also depicted on maps in white colour.
2. There are huge glaciers in Antarctica. The Lambert Glacier is the longest glacier in the world.
3. Blizzards are violent snowstorms which blow at a speed of over 72 km/h for usually three hours or more.
4. In Antarctica, it is continuously night from May to August. During this time, the rainbow-like natural light display can be seen in the night sky.
This natural colourful light display is known as Aurora or Polar Lights in general and Aurora Australis in particular.
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5. The only permanent inhabitant of the continent of Antarctica is the Penguins. Although they are birds, they can not fly but can swim very well. Fishes and krills are the main food of these penguins.
6. Krills are small shrimp-like fishes found in the seas adjacent to Antarctica.
7. Dakshin Gangotri is India’s first research station in Antarctica. The first team of Indian explorers reached Antarctica on 9 January 1982 and set up this station.
8. The eighth team of Indian explorers established India’s second permanent research station, Maitree, 70 km away from the Dakshin Gangotri on 26th March 1988.