Interesting things about the land that owns the unique "blood waterfall"
Appearing amidst the cold white ice, the “blood waterfall” in Antarctica was once suspected to be a supernatural phenomenon. But what has modern science revealed behind it?
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•27/07/2025
Blood Falls in Antarctica pours out from the base of the Taylor Glacier. The water is blood red, making many people curious about why it is so. The strange phenomenon was first recorded in 1911 by geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor. Photo: Peter Rejcek, NSF. Geologist Thomas believes that the reason Blood Falls has such a unique color is due to red algae. Photo: geologyscience.
In a study published in 2023, a group of researchers suggested that the Blood Falls water in Antarctica is red because it contains iron in the form of microscopic spheres 100 times smaller than human red blood cells. Photo: geologyscience. In addition to the mysterious Blood Falls, many facts about Antarctica surprise the public. Among them, Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest land in the world . The record low temperature ever recorded in Antarctica at Russia's Vostok station in 1983 was -98 degrees Celsius. Photo: waterproof-expeditions.com. About 100 million years ago, Antarctica had a warm climate that allowed it to grow coniferous forests, ferns, and diverse animals. Fossils found by experts reveal that this place was once part of the supercontinent Gondwana. Photo: waterproof-expeditions.com.
The ice thickness in some places in Antarctica can be up to 4.8 km. Accordingly, the ice in Antarctica contains up to 70% of the Earth's fresh water. Photo: waterproof-expeditions.com. If all the ice in Antarctica melted, global sea levels would rise about 60m, enough to submerge many coastal cities and villages around the world. Photo: waterproof-expeditions.com. Antarctica has at least two active volcanoes: Mount Erebus and Deception Island. Photo: Arlo Perez.
Despite its harsh climate, Antarctica is still home to many endemic species such as emperor penguins, fish, crustaceans, whales, etc. However, Antarctica has no land mammals, reptiles or amphibians. Photo: poseidonexeditions.com. Antarctica is an ideal place for scientists and astronomers to observe the universe, especially the background cosmic radiation thanks to the dry, clean air and lack of light pollution. Photo: wandereatwrite.com.
Readers are invited to watch the video : Behind the success of scientists. Source: VTV24.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•27/07/2025
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