The truth about Antarctica's 'Blood Falls' finally oozes out of the ice
We may finally have an explanation for a red waterfall in Antarctica that has puzzled visitors and researchers since its discovery in 1911. Blood Falls may owe its rusty, bloody color to salty water that has been trapped under the Taylor glacier for more than 1 million years.*
According to a new study published in the journal Glaciology, the color of the falls can be traced to iron-rich salty water, since the iron turns the brine red when it meets the air.*
What was previously unk**wn is the presence of an intricate plumbing system within the glacier that is allowing the iron-rich water to flow out, giving the spot the appearance of a constant stream of blood. Read more...