Blood Falls, Saline seep in Taylor Glacier, Antarctica.
Description
Blood Falls is an outflow of salty water at Taylor Glacier in Antarctica. The water comes from an underground basin and turns red when it meets air because the iron it contains oxidizes.
History
Australian geologist Griffith Taylor discovered the site in 1911 during the Terra Nova expedition under Robert Falcon Scott. He first thought algae caused the red color until scientific analyses in 2003 confirmed the role of oxidized iron.
Culture
International research teams use the site to study unusual life forms that exist in the salty depths without light. This work takes place under the Antarctic Treaty and helps understand how organisms behave under extreme conditions.
Practical
Access requires a special permit from Antarctic authorities and accompaniment by experienced polar guides with specialist equipment. Planning must be thorough and includes preparing thermal clothing, ice safety gear, and a detailed route plan in Taylor Valley.
Did you know?
The underground basin contains organisms that have survived for millions of years without oxygen or sunlight, processing iron and sulfur instead. These life forms serve researchers as a model to study similar conditions on other celestial bodies.
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