The Polar Regions: Antarctic Maps & Images

Virtual Antarctica

A nice color map of the continent that shows the different groups that have a claim to a section of Antarctica. Also has many of the place names students will encounter when studying explorers of this continent or when looking at data sets taken by different scientists. Latitude and longitude are indicated. This image is copyrighted by TerraQuest and should not be copied without permission.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 3: Understands the characteristics and uses of spatial organization of Earth's surface
Geography Human Systems Standard 13: Understands the forces of cooperation and conflict that shape the divisions of Earth's surfaces

Antarctic Maps From World School

Black and white maps in many formats to print. The PDF files print more clearly than the GIF files.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 3: Understands the characteristics and uses of spatial organization of Earth's surface

AMRC's Recent Iceberg Images

This site contains several near-real-time and archived images of icebergs during the current year. The images are usually labeled so one can track the movement of particular icebergs. This site also offers some animations of Ross Shelf Icebergs that show movement over time. You can use this site to have students track changes in an area over time. These images are in the public domain and can be copied for educational use.

Earth and Space Sciences Standard 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle
Earth and Space Sciences Standard 2: Understands Earth's composition and structure

Antarctic Ozone Hole

This site from the EPA shows a map (Fall, 2000) in several alternative formats showing changes in the extent of the Antarctic Ozone Hole. The links explain why the ozone layer is most likely to show thinning over Antarctica. Relatively easy to read and from an authoritative source.

Earth and Space Sciences Standard 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle
Earth and Space Sciences Standard 2: Understands Earth's composition and structure
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 3: Understands the characteristics and uses of spatial organization of Earth's surface

A GIS for the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

If you use GIS, you will find this data set very interesting. First there is a lovely photographic image of the area. Then it describes what you can see in certain browsers using this online GIS. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to locate the link to load the GIS and make sure you give enough time for it to load. This one really works best on a Windows Platform and you need a high speed connection.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools

Antarctic Connection Gallery

These photos are submitted by people who have visited Antarctica and who have chosen to share them via the web. You can find pictures here of ice caves, ice bergs, the aurora, field camps, boats, field stations, and wildlife. Images change often here and you may not find one you found before, but you can send an image to yourself as a postcard. I could not find a copyright description, but it appears that these could be used freely unless a particular image is labeled otherwise.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools

Antarctic QuickTime VR - Ross Island

A panoramic view from the top of Observation Hill, Ross Island, Antarctica. Put your mouse on the image, click-and-drag to look around. Requires QuickTime 4 to view. You can download this movie to your own computer if you want.

Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools

Antarctic QuickTime VR - Terra Nova Bay

A panoramic view of the Italian Science Base at Terra Nova Bay (1998). Put your mouse on the image, click-and-drag to look around. This one allows you to move your mouse up and down as well as sideways (watch the change in arrows to see where you can go). Requires QuickTime to view.

Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools

Antarctic QuickTime VR - McMurdo Dry Valleys

Panoramic photos and simulated animations of the terrain in the Dry Valleys. Students are often surprised to see how different this terrain looks from other parts of Antarctica. Choose a link from below the map, then click on different areas to see the panoramas or simulations. Put your mouse on the image, click-and-drag to look around.

Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools