Why are mountains shrinking?
It takes millions of years for mountains to grow. But many are shrinking every day. Mountains are being worn away by wind, frost and ice, which attack the peaks and break off chips of rock.
Where are the highest mountains?
The highest mountains in the world are the Himalayas in Asia. This massive mountain range has 12 of the world’s 14 highest peaks, including Mt Everest. At 8,848 metres, it’s the highest mountain on Earth.
Is it true?
The higher up a mountain you go, the hotter it gets.
- The higher you go, the colder it gets. That’s why the tops of some peaks are capped in snow – and why many mountain animals have warm, winter coats.
Where are the Poles?
The North and South Poles are at either end of the Earth. The North Pole is surrounded by the frozen Arctic Ocean. The South Pole is in the middle of icy Antarctica.
Amazing!
The coldest place on Earth is \ Vostok in Antarctica. Here temperatures can plummet to a f-f-freezing minus 89°C.
Why are the Poles cold?
The Poles are the coldest places on Earth. They’re battered by blizzards and covered in ice and snow. The Poles are cold because the Sun’s rays hit them at a slant, so they’re spread out and very weak.
Is it true?
Penguins live at the North Pole.
- Penguins only live around the South Pole. But you might bump into a polar bear at the North Pole.
Who reached the South Pole first?
The first person to reach the South Pole was Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen in December 1911. He beat the British team of Captain Scott by about a month. Exhausted and suffering from frostbite, Scott died on the way home.
Amazing!
In 1912, the luxury liner, Titanic, hit an iceberg sank in the North Atlantic. It was on its maiden (first) voyage from Southampton to New York.
What are icebergs?
Icebergs are giant chunks of ice that break off the ends of glaciers and drift out to sea. Only about a tenth of an iceberg shows above water. The rest is hidden under the sea. This makes them very dangerous to passing ships and boats.
Which was the biggest iceberg?
The biggest iceberg ever was seen near Antarctica. It was about the size of Belgium! The tallest iceberg was more than half as high as the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
