Antarctica is the coldest and driest continent in the world and its average altitude and wind speed are the highest among the continents. Annual rainfall is only 200 mm. As such, the continent is considered a cold desert. Temperatures on the continent have reached a record low of 69 ° C (8129 ° F) , although the average temperature during the coldest time of the year is 63 ° C (61 ° F). Although there are no permanent residents on the continent , about 1,000 to 5,000 people spend the year in various research centers scattered across the continent. Only plants and animals that are able to withstand the extreme cold are able to survive on this continent , including penguins , seals , nematodes , tardigrades , mites , various types of algae and other microorganisms and tundra plants.