Blood Falls, Antarctica

Blood Falls Antarctica might well be one of the coolest places you will never get the chance to visit.

Blood Falls is the byproduct of a lake more than 2 million years old, and untouched for millions of years. Lake Bonney, a subglacial lake; lies over 1,300 feet below a glacier in total complete darkness. For the last 2 million years this sheet of thick, dense ice has guarded this saline lake from  contamination and sunlight, so much intact that it seemed unlikely that remnants of life would even by possible. Although, scientists have never have never been able to drill through the 1300 foot glacier into the surface of Lake Bonney it can be concluded that there are in fact living organisms in the subglacial lake. Unlike the plankton and plant life we have closer toward the surface, these bacteria lifeforms are likely performing chemosynthesis in which they break down Iron compounds into compounds they can digest and then once again replenish in order to allow for the Iron to be used for future digestion.

The famous blood red color is formed as a result of the iron in the subglacial lake seeping through the ice and turning to Ross upon contact with the air. The result is amazing display of interaction between an environment of today and one of a time long forgotten.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIaf9LDJR9c