The continent with the highest average elevation¹ in the world is Antarctica.

With an average elevation of approximately 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), Antarctica tops all other continents due to its massive ice sheet, averaging 1.6 km (1 mile) thick and exceeding 4.8 km (3 miles) in some areas. While land lies beneath the ice, the crust is depressed² by the ice's weight; if melted, the land would rebound³.

In contrast, Asia’s average elevation is about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), and while it hosts Mount Everest (8,848 m), its overall elevation is lower. Antarctica’s high plateau, extreme cold, and arid⁴ conditions make it one of Earth’s harshest environments and a vital region for scientific research.

南极洲的平均海拔约为2,500米（8,200英尺），是地球上最高的大洲。其高海拔主要源于覆盖大陆的巨厚冰盖，平均厚度达1.6公里（1英里），最厚处甚至超过4.8公里（3英里）。尽管冰盖下存在陆地，但冰层的重量使地壳下陷，若冰层融化，陆地海拔会回升。

相比之下，亚洲平均海拔约1,000米（3,300英尺），虽拥有世界最高峰珠穆朗玛峰（8,848米），但整体海拔不及南极洲。南极洲的高原、极寒和干燥条件使其成为地球最极端的环境之一，也是科学研究的重要区域。