Frozen myths and legends of Antarctica

When you think of Antarctica, what comes to mind? Perhaps miles of stark, shimmering ice, untamed winds howling across an endless horizon, or maybe just adorable penguins waddling under a pale sun. But lurking beneath the frostbitten surface are some legends and myths that have emerged from this frozen frontier.

Antarctica is a place beyond imagination. A continent made of ice and wind, it is a place that seems to be on the edge of the Earth, where time stands still. — Sir David Attenborough

Antarctica, Earth’s southernmost continent, has captivated human imagination for centuries. This frozen expanse, often portrayed as a desolate and forbidding wilderness, serves as a canvas for a myriad of legends and myths. From the mysterious tales of ancient civilizations like Atlantis to modern-day stories of secret societies and paranormal activities, Antarctica continually fuels the human penchant for the unknown.

Is there truth behind the legends and myths of antarctica?

Atlantis

Picture a lush island brimming with life, as told by the famous philosopher Plato around 360 BC. This is the legend of Atlantis, a highly advanced civilization that prospered long ago before tragically sinking into the Atlantic Ocean. It was said to have been founded by Poseidon, the god of the sea, who gave the island to his ten sons. The kingdom’s influence supposedly stretched into the Mediterranean and North Africa, with the island’s name coming from its first king, Atlas.

Recent discoveries, like aerial photos showing mysterious circular structures under the Antarctic ice, have stirred up excitement and speculation about the possible remains of this legendary city. Could these icy secrets be the lost Atlantis, preserved for millennia? The search combines the thrill of scientific discovery with the timeless lure of myth.

Terra Australis

Terra Australis, which means “Southern Land” in Latin, was a mythical continent that many believed existed in the Southern Hemisphere. People thought this during ancient times and continued to believe it through the 15th to 18th centuries. They imagined it balanced the known lands in the Northern Hemisphere.

Antarctica represents the last great wilderness on Earth, and we have a collective duty to protect it. — Leonardo DiCaprio

The belief in Terra Australis faded after famous explorers like Abel Tasman and James Cook sailed to the Southern Hemisphere and discovered that places like Australia were not part of a larger continent but separate regions. This changed how people viewed the world map, bringing an end to the myth of Terra Australis.

Blood falls in Antarctica

Among the frozen landscapes and icy plains of Antarctica, there’s an unusual and captivating phenomenon known as Blood Falls. Located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, one of the coldest and most desolate regions on Earth, this natural wonder has baffled scientists and explorers alike for over a century.

Blood Falls was first discovered in 1911 by the Australian geologist Griffith Taylor during an expedition to Antarctica. At first glance, it appears as though a glacier is bleeding, as bright red water seeps out from the ice and flows down onto the surrounding landscape. This eerie sight led to the name “Blood Falls.”

The striking color of the water is due to its iron-rich content. Millions of years ago, a small body of water with a high concentration of iron ions became trapped beneath the Taylor Glacier. Over time, the water’s iron content interacted with the oxygen in the air, creating iron oxide (rust), which gives the water its crimson hue. As the subglacial water slowly makes its way to the surface, it emerges as the dramatic, blood-red flow we see today.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Blood Falls is the discovery of an ancient, isolated ecosystem beneath the glacier. The subglacial lake from which the water emerges is home to an array of microorganisms that have adapted to survive in extreme conditions. Cut off from light and oxygen, these microbes utilize sulfate ions in the water for respiration, demonstrating life’s tenacity in even the most inhospitable environments.

Subglacial Lakes of Antarctica

Antarctica, the fifth largest continent on Earth, hides numerous lakes beneath its ice. These subglacial bodies of water are of immense interest to scientists, as they may contain unique ecosystems and offer key insights into climate changes and processes occurring under extreme conditions.

So far, more than 400 lakes have been discovered beneath the ice of Antarctica. These lakes form due to the immense pressure of the ice on the surface and the presence of enough heat to melt the ice at the boundaries of the lithosphere.

To date, scientists have directly accessed only four such lakes. This is due to the extreme working conditions in Antarctica and the challenges associated with drilling and accessing these lakes beneath a thick layer of ice.

Some of the largest and most studied lakes include:

Lake Vostok: This is the largest subglacial lake in Antarctica and one of the largest and deepest lakes in the world. A vast amount of data has already been collected about this unique natural feature.

Lake Whillans: Scientists successfully drilled through the ice and retrieved samples that have allowed the study of ancient microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme conditions.

The Ice Wall Concept

Among the varied narratives lies the flat Earth theory, which posits that Antarctica is not a continent in the usual sense, but an ice wall that surrounds the edge of the flat disc of the Earth. In their opinion, this ice wall serves as a protective barrier, preventing water and objects from falling off the edge of the Earth. The size of this ice wall is greatly exaggerated within the framework of the theory and can reach thousands of kilometers.

In the opinion of flat Earth theorists, this ice wall serves as a protective barrier, preventing water and objects from falling off the edge of the Earth. It is often described as a colossal rampart of ice, standing several hundred meters high.

One of the more striking claims within the flat Earth framework is the exaggerated size of this ice wall. Proponents suggest that the wall spans thousands of kilometers, essentially forming a perimeter around the known world.

Flat Earth theorists often cite their interpretation of photographic evidence and discrepancies in mainstream scientific explanations to support their claims.