Indicator	Value
Total area	No authoritative open source found
Exclusive economic zone (EEZ)	No authoritative open source found
Administrative divisions (ADM1)	No authoritative open source found
Location	continent mostly south of the Antarctic CircleCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Coastline	17,968 kmCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Land boundaries	No authoritative open source found
Bordering countries	No authoritative open source found
Terrain	about 99% thick continental ice sheet and 1% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 m; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 m; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continentCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Climate	the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth; severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing; summers characterized by continuous daylight, while winters bring continuous darkness; persistent high pressure over the interior brings dry, subsiding air that results in very little cloud coverCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Natural resources	iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small noncommercial quantities; mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; krill, icefish, toothfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries, which are managed through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Highest point	Vinson Massif 4,892 mCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Lowest point	Denman Glacier more than -3,500 m (-11,500 ft) below sea levelCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Mean elevation	2,300 mCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Area (comparative)	slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the USCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Natural hazards	katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; large icebergs may calve from ice shelfvolcanism: volcanic activity on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weakCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive
Maritime claims	Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 22 of 29 Antarctic Treaty consultative parties have made no claims to Antarctic territory, although Russia and the United States have reserved the right to do so, and no country can make a new claimCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive