12 Facts You Didn't Know About Antarctica

No one could confirm the existence of the main land of Antarctica until the 1820s in a mission carried out by U.S. and British explorers.

At least 17 different species of penguin live in Antarctica, and the Adélie penguin has called the continent home for the past 45,000 years, according to National Geographic. However, with the climate changing, up to 60 percent of the land could be inhabitable for these penguins by the end of the century.

Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world, consisting of 5,405,430 square miles — making it nearly 1.5 times the size of the U.S, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Tourists can hike to visit the hut of famed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, with the lodgings practically frozen in time as they would have been 100 years ago.

No humans are indigenous to this continent, meaning animals rule Antarctica.

Antarctica clocked the coldest temperature ever recorded, coming in at 128.56 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Live Science.

Scientists study the health of killer whales to determine the health of the ecosystem at large, as they are one of Antarctica's top predator's, CBS News reported. Researchers can now use advanced drones that analyze a whale's breath to learn about their diet, according to the same report.

Luxury ships have established cruises that sail to Antarctica, allowing visitors to explore a vast portion of the landmass.

There are several churches on Antartica, including one called the "Chapel of the Snows" that was rebuilt twice.

Winds here can get up to nearly 200 miles per/hour.

The average thickness of ice on Antarctica is 1 mile.

A massive iceberg began to break free in April 2017, according to NASA satellite images, which could lead to overall disintegration of the ice shelf, Live Science reported.