Antarctica is a continent.
Antarctica ( UK English [ ænˈtɑːktɪkə ] or [ ænˈtɑːtɪkə ] , US English [ æntˈɑːrktɪkə ] ) is Earth 's southernmost continent . At 14000000 km2 , it is the fifth-largest continent . Antarctica , on average , is the coldest , driest , and windiest continent , and has the highest average elevation of all the continents . Anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent . The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining , prohibits nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal , supports scientific research , and protects the continent 's ecozone .