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How are East Antarctica and West Antarctica different?
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Antarctica
Paradise Bay, Antarctica.
Antarctica is divided into two distinct structural provinces, East Antarctica and West Antarctica, which are separated by the Transantarctic Mountains.12
The primary differences between the two regions include:
- Geologic Structure: East Antarctica is characterized by a long, stable Precambrian shield, often referred to as the Gondwana province due to its geologic affinities with regions like peninsular India. In contrast, West Antarctica is a much younger Mesozoic and Cenozoic mobile belt, known as the Andean province, which represents a southerly continuation of the South American Andes Mountains.1
- Physical Composition: East Antarctica is largely composed of a high, ice-covered plateau. West Antarctica is primarily an ice sheet covering an archipelago of mountainous islands.2
- Size and Location: East Antarctica is the larger of the two regions and lies mostly in the east longitudes, while West Antarctica lies wholly in the west longitudes.2