wonderfulwonderfulworld:

   Ice sculpture on Petermann Island in Antarctica, which I have always thought of as a northern sort of place. NOOOO! Antarctica is actually Earth’s southernmost continent, encapsulating the South Pole. It is about twice the size of Australia, and 98% of it is covered in ice at least a mile thick. Cosy.

   This is also Strange but True: Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 8 inches along the coast and far less inland. The temperature has reached −89 °C (−129 °F) which might explain why there are no permanent human residents. Nobody ever posts on their Tumblr “I miss Antarctica.”    Anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people do reside temporarily at research stations scattered across the continent, however, and take lovely pictures such as this. (Photographers Eye flickr)