Despite experiencing cold weather to the extreme with temperatures as low as -129 degrees F, Antarctica is filled with wildlife. Much of animals are particularly active in the summer. The endless opportunities to view these amazing animals makes for one of the reasons why visitors keep coming back to Antarctica again and again.

The Best Places To See Wildlife In Antarctica

If you are going to Antarctica or any of the Sub Antarctic Islands, these are the best places to see wildlife:

-Antarctic Peninsula

-Falkland Islands

-Macquarie Island

-Neko Harbor

-Peter I Island
-South Georgia Islands

-South Shetland Islands

-Weddell Sea

Antarctica is the planet's least diverse continent despite there being an abundance of wildlife to see. Because of the lack of plants that can live on land with the harsh environment of Antarctica, many of these animals depend on food found in the ocean. Less than 1% of Antarctica is free of ice or snow.

Penguins In Antarctica

This is a great environment for penguins as they are able to spend more than 75% of their lives in the water. They are powerful animals and can swim as fast as 25 miles per hour. Seventeen different species of penguins can be found in this area. However, only 4 of these types actually breed on the continent which include Adelie, Chinstrap, Emperor and Gentoo penguins.

Whales In Antarctica

Both tooth and baleen whales can be found in Antarctica. Popular whales to see include Humpbacks, Sperm Whales and Orcas. The Southern Bottlenose whales can sometimes be seen as well, but seeing them is rare. One of the interesting things about the Antarctic whales is that they do not breed here. They travel all the way from the north to enjoy the waters as it's filled with nutrients.

Seals In Antarctica

Six different species of seals live in Antarctica including Crabeater, Elephants, Fur, Leopard, Weddell and Ross seals. Some species like the Elephant seals can weigh close to a whopping 9,000 pounds. There tends to be a large population of seals in Antarctica because there aren't a lot of predators, like polar bears here. Seals spend a lot of their time in the water, but do go on land to breed. It's not uncommon for tourists to see seals lounging on the coastal shores in packs.

Birds In Antarctica

There are around 46 different species of birds, including penguins, that call Antarctica home. These include ducks, egrets, gulls and swans. In order to survive the harsh environment, birds must have a dense layer of fat located under their skin. Overall there are 19 different species of seabirds alone. Some birds will migrate north for the winter and come back during the warmer, summer months. When visiting Antarctica in the summer, tourists are often surprised at the large amount of birds that they see.