Year 1: Discovering Earth Science

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Name: Antarctica
Location: The bottom of the world
Coordinates: 90°S, 0°E
Measurements:13,209,000 sq km, 5,100,021 sq miles
Claim to Fame: World’s Coldest, Driest, Windiest Continent

Made up of 2% land and 98% ice this is the coldest place on earth . In fact, it holds 90% of the entire world’s naturally forming ice. Although this ice melts and reforms throughout the seasons it still makes for a very chilly climate. The coldest temperature ever recorded occurred near the South Pole July 21, 1983. The record breaking -89.2° C
looks to be unbeatable.

Name: Mt. Everest
Location: Himalayan Mountain Range
Coordinates: 59°N 56°E
Measurements:8,848m
Claim to Fame: World's Tallest Terrestrial Mountain

Though one of the most deadly mountains to climb claiming up to 129 people a year it remains a popular climb. Costing an average of $65,000 to stage a ascent 2,238 people had made the attempt and won. Aside from these visitors one of the only creatures to live on the mountain is a rare species of black jumping spider. The Mt. Everest area is also said to be the home of the world famous elusive Yeti.

Name: Mauna Kea
Location: Hawaii
Coordinates: 49°N 28°W
Measurements: 10,203m
Claim to Fame: World’s Tallest Mountain

This mountain out performs Everest by 1355 meters. However, 6,000 meters of the base resides under water. Despite this fact, the summit is the highest point in Hawaii.
During the Pleistocene era the entire summit had a large ice cap. As time passed and the volcano erupted the ice melted leaving a cinder cone. Eventually the volcano became dormant and the mountain settled. Most would not envision snow in Hawaii now but the top of the mountain is still often covered with a heavy dusting during the winter months. In fact, the name Mauna Kea means “white mountain”.

Name: Ojos del Salado
Location: Chile
Coordinates: 27°S 68°W
Measurements: 6,893m
Claim to Fame: World’s Tallest Active Volcano

There are questions as to whether or not this volcano should be classified as active. The most recent actual eruption was a little over 1,300 years ago. There has been lava flows found that seem to be more recent but can not be dated. In 1993 the volcano began puffing like a dragon which is the most recent activity spotted from this giant.

Name: Krubera (Voronja)
Location: Abkhazia
Coordinates: 43°N, 40°E
Measurements: -2,158m deep
Claim to Fame: World’s Deepest Cave

Although still not near the bottom after seventeen days inside the cave the team continued to ponder how far they could go. October 19, 2004 the team reached what appeared to be the end of the cave. At -2,080 meters they set foot inside the chamber later named “Game Over”. During their decent many side caves and branches were discovered. Most of these have since been explored and found to be of varied lengths, though none nearly as long as the main chamber. After further investigation it is now believed the actual depth of the Voronya Cave is an astounding -2,158 meters deep.

Name: Yarlung Tsangpo
Location: Himalayas Tibet
Coordinates: 31°N, 81°E
Measurements: 5,382 m deep/ 496.3 km long
Claim to Fame: World’s Deepest Canyon

Not only does Yarlung Tsango hold the title of deepest but it is also longest canyon on land. In fact, it is a more than 2700 m deeper and 56 km longer than the world famous Grand Canyon. In addition to it’s other records it is also the home to the highest river on Earth. This canyon yawns deeply into the sky at the top of the world.