West Antarctica

West Antarctica is a region of the continent located west of the Transantarctic Mountains, characterized by a largely ice-covered landscape, including the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. It is geologically different from East Antarctica, sitting over a bed that is mostly below sea level, making it more vulnerable to warming and ice loss. This area includes several important ice shelves and glaciers that contribute to global sea level rise when they melt or collapse. While it holds significant scientific interest due to its potential climate impacts, West Antarctica remains largely uninhabited and is mostly studied through remote sensing and scientific expeditions.