This booklet contains 16 tear-out postcards with photos of penguins and icebergs by renowned photographers such as Tui de Roy, Steve Bloom, and Nigel Sitwell.
Antarctica is the fifth largest continent, a huge landmass of about 14 million square kilometres (5.4 million square miles) at the bottom of the world. While the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land, the Antarctic consists of land surrounded by an ocean. It inspires superlatives. It is the highest, coldest, and windiest place on earth. It is also the driest, with only slightly more precipitation than the Sahara Desert. Nevertheless, the icecap that covers practically all of its surface holds three-quarters of the planet's fresh water.
These measurements are averages for the whole continent, however, and the Antarctic Peninsula region, where most tourist expeditions go, has a relatively benign climate. The biological productivity of these waters is the highest in the world, and this supports tremendous numbers of seabirds, penguins, and marine mammals such as seals and whales.
During the long days of the austral summer, it is a magical world of glaciers, icebergs, towering mountains, and dramatic vistas, as well as secluded coves and beaches. The seas are usually calm and the skies are often blue. It is a scenic wonderland with no permanent inhabitants, where nature is in charge. It is an inspiration to all who go there.