This is a map of Antarctica and how it would look like without the layers of ice covering it.
Upon taking a closer look, there is an outline that reveals present-day Antarctica, which is located in the South Pole. Hypothetically, Antarctica without ice will reveal several layers of landmass.
Besides the map above, there have been other depictions of an iceless Antarctica. Slashgear notes that in 2013, the U.S. NASA, together with the British Antarctic Survey, worked on a project called Bedmap2, that showed a rather mountainous Antarctica had it been void of ice layers. Scientists say that this land could be remnants of former supercontinents, according to a 2018 New York Times article.
LiveScience reports that in 2019, NASA released BedMachine Antarctica, which presents an updated look on the “hidden features” concealed beneath the icy continent, including “mountains, valleys and canyons”.
Ready to take a brave face in this super cold and breezy part of the world? Be prepared by checking out these books:
- Lonely Planet Antarctica (Country Guide)
- Antarctica: The Waking Giant
- Land of Wondrous Cold: The Race to Discover Antarctica and Unlock the Secrets of Its Ice
- Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer
- Antarctica Cruising Guide: Fourth edition: Includes Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Ross Sea
Help us out by sharing this map: