Notes from the Ice: Two Views of Antarctica

Text A: An Email from Dr. Reyes

1Dear Room 12, Greetings from the bottom of the world! I have been living at a research station in Antarctica for six weeks, and I promised to tell you what it is really like.

2The first thing I noticed when I stepped off the plane was the cold. It stung my cheeks, and in a few minutes my eyelashes felt stiff. Now I wear three layers of clothes and a puffy red coat every time I go outside. Even the snow sounds different here. It squeaks under my boots with every step.

3It is summer here now, so the sun never sets. At midnight, it is as bright as noon back home. During my first week, I could hardly fall asleep, so I hung a dark blanket over my window. Now I am used to the light, but I miss seeing the stars.

4My team studies the sea ice near the station. We drill small holes and measure how thick the ice is. Last week, a line of penguins waddled across the ice toward our camp. They stared at us as if we were the strange visitors. It was my favorite day so far.

5About thirty people live at the station with me. We take turns cooking, and we eat every meal together. On Sunday nights, we play board games. Please write back and tell me what you want to know! Your friend, Dr. Reyes

Text B: Antarctica (from a children's encyclopedia)

1Antarctica is the continent around the South Pole. It is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth. Almost all of its land is covered by a thick sheet of ice. In some places, the ice is more than a mile thick.

2Even though Antarctica is covered with ice, it is a desert. Very little rain or snow falls there each year.

3Most of the people who live in Antarctica are scientists and helpers from many countries. They stay at research stations, often for a few months at a time. They study ice, weather, rocks and animals.

4Antarctica's seasons are the opposite of seasons in the United States. When it is winter in the United States, it is summer in Antarctica. During its summer, the sun stays in the sky all day and all night in many places. During its winter, many places stay dark for weeks at a time.

5Few animals can live on the frozen land, but the ocean around Antarctica is full of life. Penguins, seals and whales find food in the cold water. Tiny shrimp-like animals called krill are an important food for many of them.

6The writer of this entry has never been to Antarctica. The facts come from reports by scientists who have worked there.