The document summarizes exploration and population facts about Antarctica. It discusses how Antarctica was hypothesized as early as the 1st century CE but the South Pole was not reached until 1911 by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. The Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration occurred in the late 19th century, ending with Ernest Shackleton's failed expedition. Today, research stations are constructed on fixed rock or ice locations, and the winter population is around 1,000 people, growing to 5,000 in summer, with a low population density. Two places are sometimes considered towns - the Chilean Villa Las Estrellas base and the Argentinian Esperanza base.

1. EXPLORATION
Although the existence of Antarctica
has been hypothesized since the
writings of Ptolemy in the 1st
century CE, the South Pole was not
reached until 1911.
The Heroic Age of Antarctic
Exploration was an era beginning at
the end of the 19th century and
closing with Shackleton's Imperial
Trans-Antarctic Expedition.

2. EXPLORATIONThe research stations of the Antarctic are
constructed either on rock or on ice that is
(for practical purposes) fixed in place.
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen led
the Antarctic expedition of 1910–12 which
was the first to reach the South Pole, on 14
December 1911. In 1926, he was the first
expedition leader for the air expedition to the
North Pole. Amundsen is recognized as the
first person, without dispute, to reach both
poles.

3. POPULATIONScientists and tourism make up a
“population” of 1.000 people in winter and
5.000 people in the summer. Its population
density is between 70 and 350 inhabitants
per million square kilometres.
There are two places in Antarctica that are
sometimes regarded as civilian "towns". The
first is the Chilean Villa Las Estrellas base.
The second is the Argentinian Esperanza
base.