etelänapaa

etelänapaa is the Finnish word for the South Pole. It refers to the southernmost point on the planet Earth, located at 90 degrees South latitude. This point is a theoretical location on the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet. The geographic South Pole is not a fixed point on land but rather on the moving ice. The ice sheet at the South Pole is approximately 2,700 meters thick.

The area around the South Pole is a vast, frozen desert. Temperatures are extremely low, with average annual temperatures around -50 degrees Celsius (-58 degrees Fahrenheit). The region experiences continuous daylight during the Antarctic summer (approximately September to March) and continuous darkness during the Antarctic winter (approximately March to September).

The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, operated by the United States, is located at the geographic South Pole. It is a research facility dedicated to astronomy, astrophysics, atmospheric sciences, and glaciology. The station is staffed year-round, with a reduced population during the harsh winter months. Reaching the South Pole is a significant expedition, often undertaken by explorers and scientists. The first successful expedition to reach the geographic South Pole was led by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen in 1911.