![head of Ross MacPhee](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_495.png 115w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_990.png 115w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_1468.png 115w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_1980.png 115w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot/5896440-2-eng-US/pole-ross-mcphee-headshot_full_2475.png 115w)
Click the (+) signs to explore the items in my scrapbook.
![The Continent of Science](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/legacy_t01_continent/5898815-1-eng-US/legacy_t01_continent_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/legacy_t01_continent/5898815-1-eng-US/legacy_t01_continent_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/legacy_t01_continent/5898815-1-eng-US/legacy_t01_continent_full_1468.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/legacy_t01_continent/5898815-1-eng-US/legacy_t01_continent_full_1980.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/legacy_t01_continent/5898815-1-eng-US/legacy_t01_continent_full_2475.png 1200w)
![scrapbook page with pictures of Antartica today showing the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and ways to get to Antarctica like helicopter](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/pole_legacy01_continent/5928668-2-eng-US/pole_legacy01_continent_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/pole_legacy01_continent/5928668-2-eng-US/pole_legacy01_continent_full_990.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/pole_legacy01_continent/5928668-2-eng-US/pole_legacy01_continent_full_1468.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/pole_legacy01_continent/5928668-2-eng-US/pole_legacy01_continent_full_1980.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/pole_legacy01_continent/5928668-2-eng-US/pole_legacy01_continent_full_2475.jpg 926w)
![Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station with flags from many nations planted in the snow](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science01_place/5936921-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science01_place_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science01_place/5936921-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science01_place_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science01_place/5936921-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science01_place_full_1468.jpg 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science01_place/5936921-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science01_place_full_1980.jpg 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science01_place/5936921-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science01_place_full_2475.jpg 1200w)
A Place for Peace and Science
The Antarctic Treaty states that the continent is devoted to peace and science. It is off limits to militaries and businesses. 48 nations are a part of this agreement. Scientists from around the world work at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
![Modern research station compound and tent on the edge of ice](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy/5936917-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy/5936917-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy/5936917-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy_full_1468.jpg 1400w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy/5936917-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy_full_1980.jpg 1400w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy/5936917-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science02_easy_full_2475.jpg 1400w)
Scott’s expedition paved the way for future research in Antarctica.
An Easier Stay
Compared to early explorers, today’s visitors have it easy. New technology makes living, working, and getting around Antarctica relatively comfortable. Shelters range from a simple tent or portable hut to a large, modern research station.
![helicopter over Antarctica and tugboat off the shore](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science03_today/5936913-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science03_today_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science03_today/5936913-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science03_today_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science03_today/5936913-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science03_today_full_1468.jpg 1468w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science03_today/5936913-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science03_today_full_1980.jpg 1600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/race-to-the-south-pole/pole-04_legacy/enlarge_legacy_science03_today/5936913-1-eng-US/enlarge_legacy_science03_today_full_2475.jpg 1600w)
Exploring Antarctica Today
Thousands of scientists travel to Antarctica each year. To them, the continent is a vast natural laboratory—a place to explore and research. The conditions there are unlike any other place on Earth.
Image Credits:
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, © Dwight Bohnet / NSF; vessel, helicopter, McMurdo Station, and tent, © US Antarctic Program.