antarctica

The southernmost landmass and continent. According to the Antartcic treaty, this continent is free to all nations, however some nations have scientific claims to certain areas. It is illegal to drill for oil or perform nuclear testing . Because of its lack of development it is the most pristine land in the entire world and has become an expensive cruise ship destination (altough going on land is often restricted, and some oil tankers have crashed near and killed penguin populations.) The largest living thing on the interior continent is a small, almost microscopic species of mosquito. Penguins, auks, and terns live on the ice caps on the fringes of the continent. The highest mountain is the Vinson Massif, at 16,066 feet. Antarctica was originally a part of Pangea. 50 million years ago it was a temperate continent near where modern Austrailia is today. This is why dozens of species of dinosaur have been discovered here.