Antarctica (ant-ark-tick-uhh)
Antarctica is the southernmost continent on planet Earth and is the least populated for human life. It is the fifth-largest continent in the world, being 40% larger than the entirety of Europe. The continent is incredibly important to life on Earth because of the ice sheets that maintain water levels across the globe, containing 70% of the planet's freshwater. Antarctica itself does not belong to any particular nation according to the Antarctic Treaty System of 1959 which dictated that it would remain neutral land for research online and that nuclear waste disposal, nuclear weapons testing, mining, and military training were strictly forbidden. Certain sections of Antarctica have established territorial claimsfor preservation and research, with other countries being able to operate within their borders with cooperation. These countries consist of Australia , France, New Zealand, Norway, Chile, Argentina, and the United Kingdom. It once served as a base of operations for an Antarctic sector of Majestic - known internally as Majestic 31 - before the twin facilities that constituted the sector were destroyed in kaiju attacks.
Geography
The continent is comprised predominantly of ice and polar deserts. It is divided into two sections by the Transantarctic Mountains, and three vast canyons cut through them. These are all buried beneath the ice and not visible from the surface.
Ecosystem
98% of the continent is covered by ice and glaciers, which are so heavy that they have actually caused continental bedrock to fall below sea level.
Localized Phenomena
Subglacial lakes often occur beneath the ice sheets, many of them often isolated from the outside world for millions of years. Over 400 subglacial lakes exist on the continent, as well as in Greenland and Iceland. Antarctica also possesses about 138 subglacial volcanoes beneath the glaciers.
Climate
Temperatures can get as low as −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F), making Antarctica the coldest place on the entire planet. It is also drier and windier than anywhere else, with the highest temperature in recorded history being 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) back in 1982. Actual rainfall is incredibly rare, and most of the precipitation on the continent is strictly snow.
Fauna & Flora
The continent's distance, lack of surface resources, and freezing temperatures have made it inhospitable for most life that had not specifically evolved to adapt to these conditions over millions of years. Many of the species living in Antarctica are specialized solely for such a specific climate, and they would struggle to adapt anywhere else in the world if the polar ice caps continued to melt.
Native Species
- Antarctic krill
- Tardigrade
- Leopard seal
- Southern elephant seal
- Colossal squid
- Light-mantled albatross
- Emperor penguin
- Northern giant petrel
- Southern giant petrel
- Adélie penguin
- Antarctic petrel
- Cape petrel
- Snow petrel
- Antarctic fur seal
- Kelp gull
- Chinstrap penguin
- Wandering albatross
- Crabeater seal
- Gentoo penguin
- Weddell seal
- Arctic tern
- Snowy sheathbill
- Macaroni penguin
- Black-browed albatross
- Antarctic shag
Relevant History
- Elder Things establish colony and create a kaiju
- Xothians discover derelict Elder Thing colony and establish a research base
- Nazi forces establish military base on Antarctica and discover Xothians
- United States military forces track Nazi forces to Antarctica and engage in combat with Xothians
- Formation of Majestic 31
- Second kaiju is discovered
- Majestic establishes military base to watch second kaiju
- Antarctic Awakening
- Ecofascist terrorist attack occurs and frees the second kaiju while destroying the Majestic base
- Second kaiju escapes into international waters
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