The harsh ice-bound landscape that is Antarctica has been the subject of constant fascination and study since humans first set foot on this frozen continent in 1821. This tome is a cross between a popular science book and a picture book. Mike Lucas's lucid prose is informative and concise, but the bulk of the volume is devoted to color illustrations. More than 50 photographers, including the author, contributed to the project. There are some breathtaking studies of the white wilderness and its inhabitants by Gerald Cubitt, Ken Findlay, and Roger Mear; Bruce Herrod's portrait of a scientist with a frozen beard sends chills down the spine.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Fantastic photographs and an illuminating text reveal the beauty of Antarctica, one of the world's last wild places.

Although scientists had long believed in the existence of a great southern continent, it was not until the early 19th century that land was finally sighted in Antarctica. Explorers and scientists began searching the region for seal and whale products, minerals, and fish, and did no small amount of damage. But in 1960 the Antarctic Treaty, dedicated to the preservation of the "great ice desert," was signed, and it has been maintained since by a process of rare international consensus. As more people become aware of Antarctica's poigant beauty, the opportunity to educate them about its delicate ecosystem becomes crucial.

This book provides spectacular photographs of the landscape and the hardy creatures that have adapted to it, as well as a history of the continent and a survey of its various regions, including the peninsula, the ice cap, the ice shelves, and the outlying islands. This book serves as an introduction, history, and photographic history of this incomparable part of our Earth.

Other Details: 300 full-color illustrations 160 pages 10 1/2 x 10 1/2" Published 1999