Land of Ice and Snow Our world has seven continents, but Antarctica is quite different from the other six. Antarctica is sometimes called the “White Continent” because it is covered by snow and ice. Antarctica is colder than any other place in the world. It is also windier. It is the only continent that does not have any trees - not a single one!

Sea Creatures

However, that does not mean that Antarctica is empty. In fact, Antarctica has some of the world’s largest populations of sea creatures.

The White Continent has nine types of whales and six kinds of seals - more than any of the other continents. Seals live and play on the beaches or on icebergs. They swim in icy water. Elephant seals are the biggest. Their pups gain about 120 pounds in the first three weeks of life.

Then there are the birds of Antarctica. Thousands of penguins live there. It is the only place in the world where you can see emperor and Adelie penguins in the wild. Another strange and wonderful bird is the albatross. It is one of Earth’s biggest birds. Its wingspan can be as wide as twelve feet. This giant bird can fly thousands of miles for food.

Part of Our World

Antarctica includes the South Pole, which is the bottom tip of Earth. Unlike the land on other continents, no country owns Antarctica. Several countries have claimed parts of it, but most countries have agreed to share the unusual place. They will try to keep it clean and pure.

Read Land of Ice and Snow which describes the continent of Antarctica. Write an informational passage telling about the special characteristics of Antarctica.

Remember, a good informative essay:

Has an introduction
Has a main idea
Uses specific facts and examples from the text (s) to support the main idea
Has a conclusion
Uses precise language and linking words to connect ideas
Has correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation