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Question
Write a note on the ice cap of Antarctica. Why is Antarctica called the ‘White Continent’?
Solution
- Antarctica would be the smallest continent if it did not have an ice cap. The Antarctic ice cap, the largest reserve of fresh water in the world, contains about 70 per cent of the world's fresh water. There is no coastal plain on this continent. Ice and snow cover 98 per cent of the land area of Antarctica. Ice caps are thick layers of snow and ice that permanently cover land.
- The ice cap of Antarctica is approximately 2,200 m thick. It has added to the original surface area and height of the continent. Hence, Antarctica is called the 'White Continent'.
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