1.+Introduction+READ!

=Welcome to Uganda's Antarctica wikispace=

Sunday 8 January 2012 marked the 100th Anniversary of Douglas Mawson's expedition arriving in Antarctica.This was the first of many research expeditions Australia would undertake to the frozen continent.

There are no cities or towns in Antarctica. However there are research stations, of which Australia has four. The scientists who stay in them conduct research in fields as diverse as zoology, geophysics, medicine and climate change. Unfortunately for them, they have to endure one of the most extreme environments on Earth. At the same time that mainland Australia is sweltering during summer, temperatures rarely creep above zero degrees celcius in Antarctica.

The continent may be covered in ice but it rarely snow in Antarctica. The low precipitation means it is classified as a desert.

Not only is Antarctica the driest place on Earth, it is also the windiest. Intense winds called katabatic winds blow from the inland out to the sea. Cape Denison, where Mawson set up his first base, is recognised as the windiest place on the planet.

While today's researchers have the benefits of modern technology to make life more bearable, spare a thought for Mawson and his men. They lived in wooden huts and used wooden sledges pulled by dogs to explore.

Australia has played a key role in protecting Antarctica's unique environment through the implementation of the Antarctic Treaty and the Madrid Protocol.These agreements are designed to ensure that Antarctica is not exploited, and used only for peaceful research activities. In particular, the Madrid Protocol placed a ban on mining activity in Antarctica.

Antarctica is unlike any other continent. Through ongoing research and the recognition of its universal value, this beautiful place will hopefully continue to be preserved.


 * **By Patrick Mahony** ||

Watch the video below about Scott's Antarctic Expedition. media type="youtube" key="-tiw7q9Un9U" height="349" width="425"


 * PROJECT GUIDELINE - //PLEASE READ CAREFULLY//**
 * Each information section's page includes a list of questions to help you start your research. These are just a guide. Any other interesting information you discover about your topic should be included.
 * All writing MUST be in your words. NO PLAGIARISM.
 * Include pictures, graphs, tables, maps, videos, sounds... These must be labelled.
 * DO NOT edit another person's wiki page.
 * YOU MUST WORK CONSISTENTLY ON YOUR WIKI PAGE OVER THE DURATION OF TERM 3, 2013. IT IS NOT ALRIGHT TO DO THE WIKI IN A SHORT BURST NEAR THE DUE DATE. IF YOU DO NOT WORK EVERY WEEK ON YOUR WIKI YOU WILL BE MARKED DOWN.
 * You can include video clips, sound bites or any other feature that will make your site more engaging and interesting.
 * You should know that at all times, I as the administrator of this site, can view everything you are doing on it. I can see what you have put on your page and what you have deleted; the time of day and length of time you have worked on the page. At the end of the project I check the regularity of your work... did you work consistently over the length of the assignment, or just in spurts. Your commitment to achieving your best work will factor in my final assessment mark.
 * You may email me to ask a question or seek help (only after you have made a concerted effort to solve your problem... remember I will check your wikispace to see if you have. Yes, I can do that). My email is leonie.k.turner@det.nsw.edu.au
 * DO NOT SEND EITHER ME OR ANOTHER STUDENT A SILLY EMAIL. The only emails that are to be sent are about your work. (I can read your emails) If you find a website that is suited to another student's topic then send them an email, telling them what the URL of the site is.
 * REMEMBER IF YOU DO NOT SEE YOUR PAGE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE, CLICK ON THE 'MORE PAGES' TAB AND MORE PAGES WILL APPEAR. IF YOUR PAGE IS STILL NOT THERE DO THIS AGAIN AND IT WILL BE.

Included in the tabs at the left is 'Useful URLs'. This contains a table with websites I have found and hyperlinked for you, with an brief explanation of what the site is about.

// Obviously, this Wikispace has taken a lot of time and effort to set up for you and so I expect the same level of commitment from you. //

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