Antarctica - Quiz

Answer: b) Palmer Station

The Gamburtsev mountain range is the correct hidden feature buried under the ice in Antarctica.
Lake Vostok, although another hidden feature, is a large subglacial lake.
The Lambert system is a massive rift valley system in Antarctica, but it's not related to the Gamburtsev range.
The East African Great Rift Valley is not located in Antarctica.

Plankton, both phytoplankton (plant-like organisms) and zooplankton (animal-like organisms), serve as the primary source of food for many animals in Antarctica.
Krill, which feed on plankton, are particularly important, as they form the basis of the food chain for animals such as whales, penguins, and seals.

Heavy snowfalls are common in the coastal regions of Antarctica, where recorded snowfalls of up to 1.22 m (48 in) in 48 hours have been observed.

Antarctic fur seals were heavily hunted in the 18th and 19th centuries for their pelts by seal hunters from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Melanin, a pigment present in fungi, plays a crucial role in the adaptation of fungi in Antarctica.
It provides protection against harmful UV radiation, which is prevalent in the high-latitude region.
By having strongly melanised cells, fungi can shield themselves from the damaging effects of UV radiation, ensuring their survival in this extreme environment.

Børge Ousland, the Norwegian explorer, holds the record for the fastest unsupported journey to the South Pole, completing the journey in just 34 days.
This remarkable achievement demonstrates his exceptional endurance and skill in navigating the challenging Antarctic terrain.

The first semi-permanent inhabitants of regions near Antarctica were British and American sealers.
They began spending extended periods, sometimes a year or more, on South Georgia from 1786 onward.
During the whaling era, the population of the island fluctuated based on the season, with the majority of whalers being Norwegian, and an increasing proportion from Britain.

According to the information provided, over 74,000 tourists visited Antarctica during the 2019/2020 season.
It's worth noting that this number includes both tourists who traveled on cruise ships and those who did not leave the ships to explore on land.

The first meteorite found in Antarctica was discovered in Adelie Land in 1912.
This finding marked the beginning of Antarctic meteorite research and opened up opportunities to study extraterrestrial materials preserved in the continent's unique polar desert environment.