5 Facts About Antarctica You Probably Didn’t Know

Antarctica is much like Earth’s freezer—preserving stuff we have forgotten about! Despite being the least populated continent, it holds secrets that reveal how strange and fascinating it can be. From “blood falls” to ancient fossils, here are five little-known facts about the southernmost, iciest place on Earth.

Antarctica’s “Blood Falls”

At Taylor Glacier, there’s a waterfall that runs blood-red. Known as “Blood Falls,” this eerie phenomenon is caused by iron-rich saltwater seeping from below the glacier. When the iron reacts with oxygen, it turns red, creating the look of flowing blood. It’s one of Antarctica’s most unusual natural spectacles.

Ancient Fossils Under the Ice

Antarctica wasn’t always icy. Millions of years ago, it was lush and green, home to forests and even dinosaurs. Fossils of ancient plants and reptiles have been found beneath the ice, which proves that this frozen continent once thrived with life. These fossils give scientists a peek into Earth’s distant, warmer past.

The Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded

This is by far the most frigid place on Earth, with the coldest any place has ever been: -128.6°F (-89.2°C) at the Soviet Vostok Station in 1983. Even today, some parts of Antarctica regularly reach below -100°F. It’s so cold that bare skin can freeze in seconds. This makes it one of the planet’s harshest environments.

A Desert With Almost No Rain

Antarctica is technically a desert. It receives below 2 inches of precipitation per year in some places. Most of it comes as snow that compacts over time. In fact, parts of Antarctica haven’t seen a drop of rain for nearly 2 million years, making it the driest desert on Earth!

Antarctica Has Hidden Lakes

Beneath Antarctica’s thick ice sheets lie hidden lakes—over 400 of them! Lake Vostok, the largest, has been sealed off for millions of years, creating a unique, isolated ecosystem. Scientists are studying these lakes to understand life in extreme conditions, with hopes of applying their findings to potential life on other icy planets.