Antarctica: Secrets of the Southern Continent

David McGonigal

Firefly Books, 2008 - History - 400 pages

The geology, ecology and biology of the "continent for peace and science."

This comprehensive, fully illustrated and reader-friendly book honors the International Polar Year (2007-08) with a spectacular range of information on Antarctica and the Antarctic Islands, the world's harshest environment.

Antarctica features up-to-date material from an expert team of scientists, expeditioners and historians. Included are more than 600 photographs, illustrations and maps. Among the topics covered are:

• Prehistory of Antarctica
• Geology and geography
• Flora and fauna
• Climate and the nature of ice
• The Antarctic ozone hole
• The explorers
• Current scientific research
• Conservation issues
• The impact of global warming
• The Sub-Antarctic Islands.

Detailed information is found on current issues of land, law and treaties, shipping, resource exploitation, and tourism. Also included are the Antarctic Treaty, a gazetteer and a bibliography.

Front-page news reports cover the relative health of Antarctica. This authoritative book could not be timelier.

Contents

• FOREWORD: 11
• The End of the Earth 14: 40
• Antarctic Regions: 76

About the author

David McGonigal is an award-winning travel writer and the author or editor of more than a dozen books. He has made 25 journeys to the Antarctic Peninsula, Ross Sea, and Northeast and Northwest passages as leader, lecturer and photographer.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Antarctica: Secrets of the Southern Continent
• Editor: David McGonigal
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Firefly Books, 2008
• Original from: Pennsylvania State University
• Digitized: Sep 7, 2011
• ISBN: 1554073987, 9781554073986
• Length: 400 pages
• Subjects: History / Polar Regions; Nature / Reference; Science / Earth Sciences / General; Science / Life Sciences / Ecology; Travel / Polar Regions; Travel / Reference