46 The South Pole

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The South Pole by Shana Reeves Table of Contents Chapter 1 Where is the South Pole? page 2 Chapter 2 The Race to the South Pole page 6 Chapter 3 Exploring Antarctica Today page 12 Glosssary/ Index page 15 Comprehension Check page 16

Chapter 1 Where is the South Pole? If you travel south as far as you can go, you will get to the South Pole. The South Pole is in Antarctica. Antarctica is a continent covered in ice and snow. It is the coldest place on Earth. Strong winds blow across Antarctica. It does not rain in Antarctica. It does not even snow much. There is always ice and snow in Antarctica. An icecap is a huge layer of ice. An icecap covers Antarctica. It covers parts of the sea, too. The icecap is more than a mile (2 kilometers) thick. The temperature in Antarctica is usually below 32°F (0°C). Water freezes at this temperature. Ice and snow don't melt in Antarctica. melt: to become water again The continent of Antarctica is bigger than Europe or Australia.

Very few plants and animals live in Antarctica. But many animals live in the oceans around the icecap. Penguins live in Antarctica. They cannot fly but they can swim. Penguins catch fish in the cold water. Their waterproof feathers keep them warm and dry. Thousands of seals also live in Antarctica. They hunt fish and squid for food. waterproof: does not get wet from water On land seals look heavy and slow. But in the water seals move fast. The Wandering Albatross The wandering albatross flies to Antarctica every summer. It is the world's largest sea bird. Albatrosses can travel far. They can travel more than 6,000 miles (9,600 kilometers) in 10 to 20 days. Gulls, terns, and other birds fly south to Antarctica every summer. In the summer they can easily catch fish. Whales travel south, too. Some whales eat the tiny animals in the water. Other whales eat fish and squid. Orcas also live in the oceans around Antarctica. Some people call orcas "killer whales" but they are not whales. Orcas are large dolphins. They hunt for penguins and seals.

Chapter 2 The Race to the South Pole The first people to set foot on Antarctica were probably seal and whale hunters. In 1901, the first explorers traveled to the inland areas. Captain Robert Scott was a member of the British Royal Navy. He led a team toward the South Pole. But they turned back because of bad weather. Some of the men were very sick, and they had little food. set foot on: to go to A member of Scott's team is rescued. This shows why it is not safe to travel alone in Antarctica. Ernest Shackleton was on Scott's team. He went back to Antarctica in 1907. Shackleton's team used compasses to go to the South Pole. But there are two South Poles! One is the Pole that a compass shows. The other Pole is Earth's most southern point. Shackleton was about 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from the most southern point. A compass shows directions. Shackleton's team put their flag around 100 miles from the South Pole.

In 1909, explorers reached the North Pole. Now explorers wanted to reach the South Pole. But who would reach it first? In 1910, Captain Robert Scott planned another trip to the South Pole. Roald Amundsen from Norway was also leading a team to the South Pole. There was a race to reach the South Pole! Language DETECTIVE Another: Another has the uh sound spelled with an a. Find another word with the uh sound spelled with an a on page 2. Robert Scott A member of Amundsen's team with his sled dogs and the Norwegian flag. Amundsen and his team traveled across Antarctica on skis. They wore light, warm furs. Dogs pulled their sleds packed with food and supplies. Amundsen's team reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911. They put up Norway's flag. In January they returned home safely. All the men were healthy. Language DETECTIVE December: December is the name of a month. It begins with a capital letter. Find another name of a month on this page.