Even now, more than 250 years on from the first documented journey into Antarctic waters, Antarctica remains a land of secrets and mystery. Simultaneously the southernmost, highest, driest, windiest, coldest and iciest continent on the planet, this remote land has inspired ancient legends and modern science in equal measure. With around 98% of its surface cloaked in thick ice, we’ve excavated some of the incredible stories hidden beneath.

Click through this gallery to discover the fascinating history of the frozen continent, from its heroic human explorers to its astonishing animal inhabitants...