Antarctica is the windiest, coldest, driest place on earth, and two thirds of the planets freshwater is captured in the vast glaciers in this continent twice the size of Australia. All land south of 60°S is considered Antarctica.
Half of the land is above 2000 m above sea level, and ice reaches 3500 metres.
Of birds can be found 7 species of penguins, 5 species of albatross, 17 species of petrels, fulmars, prions and storm-petrels, 2 species of diving petrel, Blue-eyed Shag, Snowy Sheathbill, two species of skuas, Kelp Gull and two species of terns.
On South Georgia two species of ducks and the only passerine in Antarctica, the South Georgia Pipit, can be seen.
The largest colonies of Antarctic Petrel are found near the Troll Station in Muhlig Hoffmann Mts. in Dronning Maud Land, the largest colony consists of 200-250,000 pairs of this species alone, and in nearby Jutulsessen about 100,000 petrels are breeding at 72°S, more than 200 kms away from nearest seashore. The birds flies 11000 km to feed before returning to the nest for feeding the single chick.
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