Antarctica is an ice-locked landmass that surrounds the South Pole, and is the most desolate and remote place in the world. The continent has no government and belongs to no country.

An article in the April 17, 2009, issue of the journal Science, researchers announced that they had discovered a colony of 1.5 million-year-old microbes beneath the Antarctic ice. The microbes were discovered in the Blood Falls, at the edge of Taylor Glacier. Scientists believe the microbes could serve as a model of how life could survive on icy planets.FOXNews.com: Million-Year-Old Microbe Colony Found Under Antarctic Ice

Captain Cook was the first person to sail to Antarctica in 1773, yet he never set foot on it. There were many explorers from many countries that explored the continent, including Robert F. Scott who made an expedition to the South Pole, however when he got there Norwegian Roald Amundsen had already planted a flag. Several flew over parts of the continent but in 1929 Richard E. Byrd and three others become the first persons to fly completely over the South Pole. In 1947 under the direction of the U.S. Navy, "Operation Highjump" was organized, which included 4,700 men, 13 ships and 23 aircraft. Their main goal was mapping and taking over 70,000 aerial photographs of the continent.

In 1959, twelve leading nations signed what is known as the Antarctica Treaty, Which declares the continent "shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes", the treaty came into effect in 1961. No nation can test weapons or set up military maneuvers, but may use military personnel and equipment for scientific peaceful purposes.

The sun never rises in the winter and never sets during the summer. With it being at a high altitude the sunlight is intense, and with the snow reflection, sunglasses with UV blocking is required to prevent eye damage. Billions of tons of ice break off each summer from the cliff like shelves. During the short summer months there is approx. 4,000 personal stationed at scientific bases and only 1,000 in winter. Summer tourist average about 25,000.

• • Mahalo's Tips On How to Get a Passport
  • Check the U.S. State Department for information on Foreign Entry Requirements

• 1773: James Cook crosses the Antarctic circle and circumnavigates Antarctica

• 1819-21: Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen a Russian naval officer, first to cross the Antarctic circle since Cook

• 1823: British whaler James Weddell discovers the sea named after him, and no one else is able to penetrate the Weddell sea again for 80 years

• 1840's: Great Britain, France and America, all on separate expeditions, establish the status of Antarctica as a continent

• 1898: Adrien de Gerlache and the crew of the "Belgica" become trapped in pack ice, becoming the first to survive an Antarctic winter involuntarily

• 1899: Carsten Borchgrevink leads a British expedition, and is the first to winter on the Antarctic landmass

• 1902: Captain Robert Falcon Scott, leads his first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole, forced to turn back two months later and suffering from snow blindness and scurvy

• 1907-09: Ernest Shackleton tries to reach the South Pole, but had to turn back because supplies were exhausted

• 1909: Douglas Mawson reaches the Magnetic South Pole

• 1911: Roald Amundsen a Norwegian reaches the South Pole

• 1912: Britain's Captain Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole but was beaten by Roald Amundsen

• 1923: Ross Sea had large-scale factory ship whaling

• 1928: Australian Sir George Wilkins and American Carl Benjamin Eielson fly over the peninsula region

• 1929: U.S. Admiral Richard E. Byrd was the first to fly over the South Pole

• 1935: Caroline Mikkelsen, Norway is the first woman to set foot on Anarticia

• 1947: Operation Highjump from the United States, sends the largest ever expedition of over 4700 men, 13 ships and 23 airplanes to Antarctica for map making

• 1956: United States aircraft lands on the South Pole, first there since 1912

• 1957-58: 12 nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica called the International Geophysical Year

• 1961: Antarctic Treaty is set

• 1997: First person to cross Antarctica unsupported, was Boerge Ousland of Norway

• 2007-09: International Polar Year is allowing researchers the opportunity to work in both polar regions or work summer and winter