Exploring the Mystery of Blood Falls: Antarctica’s Fascinating Red Waterfall

Antarctica: In the South Pole, Antarctica is an uninhabitable place surrounded entirely by ice sheets, resembling a land covered by a white blanket. In this freezing region, a waterfall pours, and if it's said to be red like blood, can you believe it? Let’s explore this further.

Antarctica, located at Earth's South Pole, remains one of the most unexplored areas for humans. It has long been a site for research and exploration.

Even today, Antarctica remains largely unstudied, and research there is ongoing, with scientists being awestruck by the phenomena occurring. One of the most fascinating features of Antarctica is the Blood Falls. This waterfall flows from the Taylor Glacier into the western Lake Bonney area. The red-colored waterfall amidst the white snow-covered region draws attention. It was discovered by geographer Thomas Griffith Taylor in 1911 and has captivated people ever since. Let's look at some interesting facts about the Blood Falls.

The Blood Falls, named so, was discovered by Griffith Taylor 110 years ago. The red-colored water flowing through the glacier and the valley also bear Taylor's name. Why red? Initially, scientists assumed that the red color was caused by high iron content in the flowing water. However, recent studies reveal a different explanation. The waterfall contains a high level of iron, which, when combined with the water coming from the glacier, reacts with the oxygen in the air, producing the blood-like red color.

Another remarkable fact is the temperature. The temperature here is minus 19°C. Typically, water freezes at 0°C, but in this extreme cold, how is the water still flowing without freezing? This perplexed scientists initially, but research in 2003 uncovered the reason: the water here contains an unusually high level of salt, twice as much as seawater. This high salt concentration prevents the water from freezing, allowing it to flow as a waterfall despite the freezing temperature.

You may wonder how seawater got here since all the glaciers in Antarctica are made of fresh water. The answer lies in the research: around 1.5 million years ago, the area was once covered by the sea. Over time, natural changes led to the formation of a lake that trapped seawater. Gradually, ice sheets formed around it, and at one point, the water broke free, creating the waterfall we see today.

This naturally occurring Blood Falls continues to amaze researchers and stands as an exceptional natural wonder.