Antarctica’s existence has been suspected for centuries, but it wasn't until 1820 that a Russian expedition actually sighted the shores of the icy continent. Exploration soon began. Although many other great attempts were made, the first Antarctic expedition to successfully reach the South Pole was that of Roald Amundsen in 1911. The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 prohibited weapons testing, disposal of nuclear waste, military activity and mineral mining in Antarctica.
Several fantastic animals can be found only in Antarctica and the surrounding ocean and islands. On an Antarctic cruise, if you are lucky, you could sight as many as 7 different species of penguin, 6 kinds of seal, more than 10 species of whale and dolphin and many other animals and birds.
Since Antarctica is not a country, there is no official language, no currency and there are no citizens. The best part is that there isn't much to buy in Antarctica but when money is required, the US dollar is widely used. The best time to visit is between November and March – summer in Antarctica.
