"I've been fascinated by Antarctica"

A new book is charting the global history of Antarctica using a series of unique objects. Bill Gilbb finds out more.

IT’S about the size of America and Mexico put together and represents nearly 10% of Earth’s total land mass, but most world maps show it just as a white mass at the bottom or leave it out altogether.

But Antarctica plays a vital part in our lives and in our future existence.

A new book, Antarctica: A History In 100 Objects”, aims to put the world’s southernmost and least populated continent firmly on the map.

Authors Jean de Pomereu and Daniella McCahey have taken the novel approach of showcasing Antarctica’s history through a selection of objects.

Some are world famous others downright weird!

They include ice cores containing 800,000 plus years of climate history, the Polar Star aircraft used to complete the first trans Antarctic flight, and a bust of Lenin installed in the heart of Antarctica by a Soviet expedition.

The book has come out in time for the 250th anniversary of the first crossing into the Antarctic Circle by James Cook aboard HMS Resolution in 1773.