The Explorations of Antarctica: The Last Unspoilt Continent

Throughout history, Antarctica has been a place of mystery and fascination, visited by intrepid explorers but inaccessible to most of humanity. In this remarkable book, Fogg, past chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the British Antarctic Survey, and Smith, an artist who spent nearly a year in Antarctica, demonstrate that the icy continent is as beautiful as it is crucial to our understanding of the world's environment. Fogg's lucid text recreates explorations through the centuries and describes the region's geography, landscape and wildlife; Smith's powerful oil and watercolor paintings, superbly reproduced in color, dramatically depict breathtaking scenery. Photographs and engravings of historic voyages to Antarctica round out the portrayal of this remote continent, the only place on earth that all the major nations have agreed not to exploit. (Dec.)