Question

Only 11 children have been born on Antarctica. Assess if it’s possible to have a permanent population living on the frozen continent (9 marks)

Answer 1

The environment is not hospitable to human life, and international treaties forbid any country from claiming territory in Antarctica, which a permanent residency would be doing by default. If you want cold and dark and very little interaction with other people, move to Finland.

Overwintering, in 100% darkness adds its own difficulties. Psychologically, it's very demanding. Living in close quarters with a small, unchanging group of people is very difficult, and the longer the stretch of time, the more of a strain it is on everyone. This is true even in much milder climates than Antarctica's.