East Antarctica
region, Antarctica
Also known as: Gondwana province, Greater Antarctica
Quick Summary
East Antarctica is a massive ice-covered plateau, the largest part of the Antarctic ice sheet, covering approximately 10,200,000 square kilometers. It is separated from West Antarctica by the Transantarctic Mountains. The bedrock of East Antarctica lies at sea level, but the ice surface can reach over 4,000 meters in elevation. This ice sheet contains about 90% of the world's ice and 80% of its fresh water. Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, with temperatures reaching as low as -89.2 °C (-128.6 °F).123
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