During summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period. It is mostly uninhabitable  apart from scientists for short periods of time. Nearly all of Antarctica is covered by ice and snow. Parts of Antarctica are claimed by Argentina, Australia, Britain, Chile, France, New Zealand and Norway.

The continent consists of about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters. Antarctica has several  mountain ranges up to 4,897 meters high. Its ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound. Many glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent.

In Antarctica, severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean. East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation. The Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate and higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing.