… Land. Camping in the world's icebox Accommodation on the mainland is usually in the form of camping. One of the largest camp sites is currently on Union Glacier, where … reached over 500 during the 2010/2011 season. These camps are the starting point for many of the activities in the vicinity, including excursions to emperor penguin … rising demand and corresponding supply of onshore tourist activities are cause for some concern. Risks for man and nature Tourists have the opportunity to access …

… to avoid causing harm to the environment. Source: Fritz Hertel/UBA The reasons for travelling to the Antarctic are as varied as the possibilities to do so. We have compiled information on the following pages to help you plan your journey to the Antarctic in accordance with the high environmental standards in effect and to apply for your permit with us. last update on 23.07.2013 Information for travellers to the …

… tourism, tourist numbers have risen steeply. Source: Fritz Hertel/UBA Scientists formed the majority of visitors to Antarctica prior to 1950. Today tourism is a … Argentina. Paying travellers accompanied researchers to the South Shetland Islands for the first time in 1958. The Swedish-American tour operator and discoverer … which is still in effect today: he organized the first cruise trips to Antarctica for travellers who enjoyed information and lectures by experts instead of …

… Research and logistics in the perpetual ice German researchers have been present in Antarctica since 1981. Source: M. Müller/UBA Antarctica is a nature … Islands at the northernmost tip of Antarctica. It took nearly 50 more years before other countries had their own stations. Many of the early research stations … nowadays). The region still has the highest number of stations in Antarctica today. For a detailed list of the research stations go the Council of Managers of National …

… to the harsh living conditions. last update on 27.01.2016 Krill as the basis for the food chain The number of higher animal species present in the Antarctic is relatively small. Their habitat is limited to the narrow, ice-free coastal areas and the ocean, on which they depend for their food. The most important link in the food chain of the Southern Ocean is …

… which are ice-free. However, these highly specialised plants are threatened when foreign subpolar species are introduced or human activities cause other types of … Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus crassifolius), a small umbelliferous plant, are present mainly on the Antarctic Peninsula. Predominantly flowerless organisms … can even photosynthesise at temperatures below -10°C. The most favourable locations for lichen are in the marine West Antarctic with its adequate humidity. Highly …

… Gondwana gradually broke up beginning in the Mesozoic era to eventually become the present-day continents. Convection currents in the Earth's interior continue to move … two regions from one another. The mountain range extends across the continent and forms a tectonically active region. The southernmost active volcano in the world, … which make it possible to 'take a look' under the ice. Different types of rock formation hint at the eventful history of Antarctica. Source: Fritz Hertel/UBA …

… S. Marahrens / Umweltbundesamt The world’s soils are neither barren nor dead, for they constitute the habitats of one trillion times more bacteria than there are … a million bacteria, 120,000 fungi and 25,000 algae. These microscopic organisms perform key material-cycle functions. last update on 17.07.2013 Soil teems with life … from urban sprawl and the like Division of soil organisms Source: Umweltbundesamt Download image (165.56 kB) Taxonomic classification of the most important groups of …

… environmental pollution. The EU’s CORINE Land Cover (CLC, Coordination of Information on the Environment) program provides harmonized and thus comparable land cover and land use information for all EU member states. last update on 20.04.2015 Harmonized land cover data for …

… problems can result. last update on 10.03.2014 Is soil compaction a problem? Farm, forestry and construction equipment has become ever more powerful and ever heavier … weigh up to 27 tons; a sugar beet harverster weighs up to 60 tons; and trucks used for crop transport weigh up to 40 tons. Driving such machinery over the ground can … weight generates pressure onto the soil. Source: S. Marahrens / Umweltbundesamt Download image (493.74 kB) Weight loads of different agricultural machine types. …