Final answer:
Under the giant ice sheet in Antarctica, there are sub-glacial lakes and areas of bare ground. The lakes exist below the ice and raise questions about aquatic life, while the bare ground areas have limited plant life. If all the ice and snow were removed from Antarctica, the land area would mainly consist of mountain ranges and islands.
Step-by-step explanation:
Below the giant ice sheet in Antarctica, there are sub-glacial lakes. One of the largest lakes discovered so far is called Lake Vostok, which is located two miles below the ice sheet and is about the size of Lake Ontario. These lakes are hidden beneath the ice and their existence raises questions about the possible presence of aquatic life. If all the ice and snow were removed from Antarctica, the land area would be much smaller and mainly consist of mountain ranges and islands.
In addition to the ice sheet, there are also areas in Antarctica without ice cover, known as bare ground. These areas protrude above the ice sheet and make up a small portion of the continent, approximately equivalent to half the size of the US state of Kentucky. The only plant life that exists in these areas are mosses and lichens that grow during short periods of the year.