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This image released on March 7, 2007 displays a portion of the natural color mosaic over McMurdo Station, the largest research base in Antarctica. Ross Island is roughly 45 miles across at its widest point. In support of the International Polar Year (2007-2008), the new Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA) provides a comprehensive view of Antarctica. The USGS, the British Antarctic Survey, and NASA, with funding from the National Science Foundation, are developing the new mosaic along with an Antarctic web portal and online map viewer. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

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UN kicks off 2-year-long International Polar Year

    BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- More than 60 nations, 3,000 snowmen-building children, top scientists, researchers and about 50,000 people will be involved in 228 projects in the broadest scientific investigation yet of the Arctic and Antarctic to chart polar regions on the front lines of global warming in a United Nations sponsored program titled International Polar Year.

China participates in International Polar Year for the first time

    BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The China Program for International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 was officially launched here on Thursday.

    While this is the fourth IPY, it is the first time China has taken part.