Antarctica

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Fantastic photographs and an illuminating text reveal the beauty of Antarctica, one of the world's last wild places.

Although scientists had long believed in the existence of a great southern continent, it was not until the early 19th century that land was finally sighted in Antarctica. Explorers and scientists began searching the region for seal and whale products, minerals, and fish, and did no small amount of damage. But in 1960 the Antarctic Treaty, dedicated to the preservation of the "great ice desert," was signed, and it has been maintained since by a process of rare international consensus. As more people become aware of Antarctica's poigant beauty, the opportunity to educate them about its delicate ecosystem becomes crucial.

This book provides spectacular photographs of the landscape and the hardy creatures that have adapted to it, as well as a history of the continent and a survey of its various regions, including the peninsula, the ice cap, the ice shelves, and the outlying islands. This book serves as an introduction, history, and photographic history of this incomparable part of our Earth.

Other Details: 300 full-color illustrations 160 pages 10 1/2 x 10 1/2" Published 1999