The Antarctic Circle

The Antarctic Circle is an imaginary line that goes around the Earth near the South Pole. It is the southern version of the Arctic Circle. South of this line, the sun does not set on the longest day of summer. In winter, the sun does not rise at all.

Seasons in the Antarctic

The Antarctic has the opposite seasons from the Arctic. When it is summer in the Arctic, it is winter in the Antarctic. Summer in the Antarctic is from December to February. That is when the sun shines all day long south of the Antarctic Circle.

A Frozen Land

Almost all the land south of the Antarctic Circle is covered by the continent of Antarctica. It is very cold and windy. No one lives there all the time. Scientists work at research stations to study the ice, weather, and animals like penguins and seals.

Fun Facts

• The Antarctic Circle is at about 66.5 degrees south latitude.
• Antarctica has about 90 percent of all the ice on Earth.
• The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was in Antarctica: minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Did You Know?

The Antarctic ice sheet is so heavy that it pushes the land beneath it down into the Earth!