Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent, encapsulating the South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the southern hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by theSouthern Ocean. At 14.0 million sq km (5.4 million sq mi), it is the fifth-largest continent in area after. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice, which averages at least 1.6 km (1.0 mi) in thickness.