Is there anything to see besides snow? How cold is it? Isn’t it really expensive?
People go to Antarctica, like, on vacation?
Yes. In fact, Antarctic tourism is booming. Last year over 34,000 tourists visited the continent, as estimated by IAATO, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators.
Flickr: 10482456@N00 / Creative Commons
Is there anything there besides snow?
Well, there is a lot of snow there. Ninety-eight percent of the continent is covered in ice and snow that's, on average, more than a mile thick.
StephenHudson / Wikipedia Commons
That said...
There's actually a lot to see there, geography-wise. The Antarctic Peninsula — where the majority of tourists go — is a continuation of the Andes Mountains, meaning it's quite mountainous. Peaks often rise out of the ocean, interspersed by enormous glaciers. It's one of the most pristine places on Earth, in no small part because it's mostly untouched by humans.
Sandra Allen
How do you get there?
On a boat! While big, traditional cruise ships do go to Antarctica, they aren't able to bring passengers to shore. For this reason, expedition-sized boats that carry more than 13 but fewer than 500 passengers are popular.
Flickr: david_knight / Creative Commons
