Buried Mountains

The Gamburtsev mountain range, buried beneath a kilometre of ice, has been mapped for the first time by an international team of experts. “The team used an array of tools including seismic wave reflection, radar, and precise gravitational measurements to map the frozen features – there are a lot more differences between ice and rock than ‘one works in drinks’, and they used them all. If ‘Sub-Antarctic Mountain Range’ isn’t good enough for you, the valleys between the peaks come complete with rivers and lakes – yes, lakes. Under the ice. At the South Pole. The mountains are a massive mystery – they seem to be half a billion years old, but on a tectonic scale you can’t just say ‘that’s a long time ago so who cares.’ There are no other indications of such titanic tectonics in the area at the time, and the range has none of the signs of volcanic formation.”