Antarctica is the southernmost and least populated continent. It is surrounded by the Southern Ocean and the geographic South Pole is located here. With an area of 14.2 million km2, it is almost twice the size of Australia. The vast majority of Antarctica is covered by ice, the thickness of which is on average 1.9 km. About 70 % of the world's freshwater reserves are frozen in Antarctica. If the ice covering Antarctica were to melt, the level of the world's oceans would rise by almost 60 meters. It is the coldest, driest and windiest continent. It holds the record for the lowest measured temperature on Earth, −89.2 °C. Among the native species of animals in Antarctica are mainly penguins and seals. Where vegetation occurs, it is mostly in the form of lichen or moss. Tourism, fishing and research are the main human activities in and around Antarctica.