Antarctica. A cold and inhospitable place. A desert covered by ice nearly two miles thick in some areas. Bitter cold winds, with gust over 100 mph, freeze the continent solid. Too cold for most animals to live, yet along the coast the seas surrounding Antarctica are teeming with life. Penguins, seals, krill, and killer whales all coexist within this exotic and alien world.

Humans too exist in this frozen land. But they require space-age technology to survive the long winter. Around the turn of the last century three different groups of explorers set off to become the first to tame Antarctica by reaching the South Pole. Each wanted desperately to be the first, but only one group would make it and live to tell about it. You will discover the story of those courageous men and their battle with the land of ice.

This WebQuest asks you to become part of a team of adventurers as they race their way to the South Pole ahead of all the other teams in your class. To accomplish this you will learn about the early explorers to the pole and about how scientists live and work in Antarctica today.

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