Photo Galleries

Science Photo Gallery Atmosphere Photo Gallery Ice sheet Photo Gallery

The South Pole is located high on the Antarctic ice sheet at an elevation of 2835 m (~9300 feet) and around 1270 km (790 miles) from the Antarctic coastline at its nearest point (the Bay of Whales on the Ross Ice Shelf). The South Pole climate is extremely cold and dry. Each winter, the sun sets on 21 March and does not rise above the horizon again until 21 September. The Pole’s unique position at the southern axis point of the Earth makes it ideal for studying a range of atmospheric and astronomical phenomena.