The world's largest marine reserve in Antarctica

• in the Antarctic

marine reserve world's largest

In late October, delegates from 24 countries and representatives of the European Union approved the creation of the Antarctic world's largest marine reserve. The area of the protected zone in the sea Ross created by CCAMLR solution exceeds 1, 55 million sq. km!

The world's largest marine reserve in Antarctica

The world's largest marine reserve will serve as a protection of pristine wilderness of Antarctica.

The agreement on the establishment of the zone has been concluded at the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Resources, which was held in the Australian city of Hobart. This decision was preceded by several years of negotiations.

Russia last year was the only country that opposed the creation of the zone due to concerns about fishing. This year, Russia approved the project.

Now the fisheries in this area will be banned for 35 years.

Ross Sea, which occupies only two percent of the Southern Ocean, is home to 38% of the world population of Adélie penguins, petrels and 30% about 6% of the species of whales minke whales.

Scientists believe that as long as the Ross Sea is almost not affected by human activities.

Minke whale.

Iceberg. As a rule, the icebergs are formed by chipping the ice shelves.

Adelie Penguin on drifting ice in the Ross Sea in Antarctica, on October 28, 2016. Named by the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville after his wife Adele. And Adelie Penguin depicted in the logo of "Linux" operating system.

In addition to the cold pole in Antarctica located the lowest point relative humidity, the most powerful and long-lasting wind and solar radiation is most intense.

The Ross Sea, Antarctica. Ross Sea - a marginal sea of the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean. The coldest month - August. Minimum air temperature reached at sea Ross equal to minus 62 degrees.

Iceberg near the largest settlement and research center in Antarctica.

The Ross Sea a lot of icebergs, there are huge - the perimeter of tens or hundreds of kilometers. Summer formed extensive strip of pure water, allowing vessels to approach the barrier ice shelf. The annual average temperature of water on the surface is below -1 ° C, the summer sometimes increases to 2 ° C.

colony of emperor penguins. It is the largest and heaviest of the modern species of penguin. The average height is about 120 cm and weight varies between 22 and 45 kg.