Only humans live at the South Pole, and even then, only for short periods of time (nobody lives here permanently). You might be familiar with some Antarctic animal species – like penguins, seals, and skuas – but they all live on the coast, where they can fish for food. Here in the middle of the continent at the South Pole, there is no natural vegetation or wildlife.
The South Pole is a special location in many ways. Many people don’t realize that the South Pole is at a high elevation – 9,301 feet above sea level. That means that in addition to the extreme cold, the people here also have to deal with less oxygen in the air. It can take a couple of days to adjust to the altitude after arriving at the station. And being the world’s driest polar desert, we have to drink a lot of fluids every day.
The environment here is among the harshest and most inhospitable on Earth. Yet, certain aspects of the environment still support human life — at least temporarily. Extensive ice sheets provide a reliable source of fresh water when melted, and the surrounding Southern Ocean offers abundant marine life that supports research and limited fishing activity.
