Mountain Conservation in the Antarctic Treaty System

Abstract

Antarctica, the fifth largest continent, covers almost 14 M km2 and extends to 20 M km2 as sea ice develops inthe austral winter..Some98percent ofthe continent iscoveredbyicewithan averagethickness of2450 m. The icecap gives Antarctica the greatest average elevation of all continents at 2300 m (the Australian continent averages 340 m). The highest elevation on the icecap rises to a height of 4100 m. The continent is divided into two regions by the mainly exposed Transantarctic Mountains extending some 3500 km from Cape Adare to isolated ranges close to the Filchner Ice Shelf (Drewry 1987). East of the Transantarctic Mountains is East or Greater Antarctica, a Precambrian shield almost completely covered by an ice sheet. The Gamburtsev Mountains are the largest within the continental interior and rise to 3800 m.