罗斯海的冰山，南极洲 Iceberg in the Ross Sea, Antarctica (© Michel Roggo/Minden Pictures)

罗斯海的冰山，南极洲 Iceberg in the Ross Sea, Antarctica (© Michel Roggo/Minden Pictures)

为最酷的地方欢呼！ Celebrating the coolest place!

世界南极日

地球上风最大、最寒冷、最干燥的大陆，世界第五大洲——南极洲，于1820年被发现。在随后的几十年里，多个国家组织探险队前往南极冰原进行考察。由于南极洲没有原住民，因此各国都声称对其拥有主权。随着紧张局势的加剧，12个国家于1959年签署了《南极条约》，将该地区划为科学研究区，并禁止一切军事活动。目前该条约已有56个缔约国，我们今天庆祝的就是这个条约的周年纪念日。

从悬浮的冰晶云到冰下富含氧化铁的血红色湖泊，这片极地沙漠遍布自然奇观。该地巨大的冰盖储存了世界上大约70%的淡水。如果冰盖全部融化，海平面会上升200多英尺，并会威胁到世界各地的低洼地区。臭名昭著的臭氧层空洞就位于南极洲上空，但在全球的共同努力下，有望在未来20年内关闭臭氧层空洞。

Antarctica Day

The windiest, coldest, and driest continent on Earth—Antarctica—was officially discovered in 1820. In the following decades, several countries organized expeditions to reach and explore the Antarctic ice sheets. The southernmost continent had no indigenous population and various nations claimed ownership. But in 1959, 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, banning military activities and setting Antarctica aside for scientific research. Today, we celebrate the anniversary of this treaty, which now has 56 parties.

From suspended clouds of ice crystals to a subglacial, iron oxide-rich lake that seeps into a blood-red waterfall, this polar desert is full of natural wonders. Its massive ice sheet stores about 70% of the world's fresh water, enough to raise sea levels by more than 200 feet if it were to melt entirely.