 It is estimated that one-eighth of Earth's surface is suitable for humans to live on – three-quarters of Earth's surface is covered by oceans, leaving one quarter as land. Half of that land area is desert (14 %), high mountains (27 %), or other unsuitable terrain. The northernmost permanent settlement in the world is Alert, on Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada. (82°28 ′ N) The southernmost is the Amundsen – Scott South Pole Station, in Antarctica, almost exactly at the South Pole. (90°S)
