The morphology and physical and chemical properties of soils are reported for Antarctica, the Pensacola Mountains, and the Peninsula region and offshore islands. Also, appraisal is made of potential impacts on Antarctic soils and the nature of permafrost. The soils of the Peninsula region are more developed than anywhere else on the continent. The consistency of mineral soils ranges from single grain to friable and they are brown to yellowish brown in color. Cation exchange capacities are generally low and potassium and sodium are prominent on the exchange complex of the intermediate and poorly drained soils. All soils are deficient in available nitrogen and phosphorous, and in recently abandoned rookeries they are strongly alkaline. Any activity which disturbs the soil, i.e., construction activity, indiscriminate soil sampling, or spilled hydrocarbons, presents a potential hazard to the soil profile. Permafrost, confined largely to the McMurdo Dry Valley area, is shallow and quite irregular, ranging from between 400-500m at McMurdo Station to approx. 970m near Lake Vanda. None exists beneath Lakes Vanda, Bonney and Don Juan Pond. Ice-rich permafrost occurs in Taylor Valley where interlayered ice and outwash gravels are associated with Lake Vanda. In the Antarctic Peninsula region, including the offshore islands, permafrost characteristics are probably as complex as those in the dry valleys.