Here’s 11 Factoids About Antarctica That Will Blow Your Brain Out Of The Back Of Your Skull

I know, that was a descriptive title. You’re welcome. Anywho, we can all agree that myself and my crack staff here at Shoe: Untied maintain an eclectic site, amirite? I mean, name another site that covers, among other things, politics, sports, humor, nature, education, and dumb people being mauled by animals. You can’t. That said, let’s take a look at some facts you may not know about Antarctica. Seriously, you’ll dig it. Trust me.

Note: Antarctica is the one on the bottom of the earth, but you knew that, right? Right?

There Are Places In Antarctica Which Haven’t Received Rain Or Snow In 2-Million Years

See? Mind already blown. Check to make sure your brain isn’t on the floor behind you. Seriously, in Antarctica around 1% of the continent is permanently ice-free. These areas are called Dry Valleys or Antarctic Oasis.

There’s A Waterfall In Antarctica Which Is Called Blood Falls

Not kidding. And you know why? Because it’s freakin’ red, man. You see, 5-million years ago, as sea levels rose, East Antarctica was flooded and a brine lake was formed there. After millions of years, glaciers formed on top of the lake. As they froze, the water below became even saltier. Still with me? Today, the subglacial lake under Blood Falls is three times saltier than seawater and, therefore, is too salty to freeze. The water beneath Taylor Glacier, which feeds the Blood Fall, contains a lot of iron, and when iron-rich water comes in contact with air, the iron oxidizes and takes on a red coloring, leaving blood-like stains on the ice. Whew. Get all that? Good. Here’s a photo for all you cynical folk.

70% Percent Of World’s Fresh Water Is In Antarctica

Yep. Around 90% of the world’s ice and 70% of the fresh water is in Antarctica. If all of the Antarctic ice melted, sea levels in the world would rise about 200-feet and that trip to your summer beach house would be shot all to hell.

See ya Florida!

The Average Ice Sheet Thickness In Antarctica Is 1-Mile

You know, other than that 1% I told you about earlier.

Sled Dogs Have Been Banned From Antarctica Since 1994

Back in 1911 sled dogs hauled supplies for Norwegian explorers led by Roald Amundsen. It was the first expedition to reach the South Pole. Afterwards, sled dogs were kept and used in Antarctica for years. However, they were banned from the continent in 1993 due to fear that they might transmit canine distemper to the Antarctic seals or would escape and disturb the local wildlife. Good call Antarctica.

Antarctica Has No Official Time Zone

Why, you ask? Because Antarctica is mostly uninhabited. However, a number of research stations use the time zone of the country that operates or supplies them.

Antarctica Is 1.5 The Size Of USA

It’s also twice the size of Australia and 50-times the size of the United Kingdom. In yo face ya limeys.

See?

Antarctica Is The Only Continent Without Reptiles And Snakes

However, there is an abundance of other forms of wildlife such as whales, seals, penguins and other birds. On a related note, I may or may not have cried while watching March of the Penguins.

Winds Can Reach The Speed Of 200-Miles Per Hour

It rarely snows in Antarctica, but it looks like it because of the wind blowing it around. Illusions and whatnot.

There Are No Polar Bears In Antarctica, Only In The Arctic

True story. See, the Brown bear of North America is the ancestor of the Polar bear. Naturally, Polar bears now live in countries that surround the Arctic Circle – Alaska, Norway, Russia, Canada and Greenland. Consequently, Polar bears do not live in Antarctica, but only in the Arctic, as there was no way they could reach the South Pole. Bears could not handle the tropical temperatures on the way down there anyway, and there is no way to get there by land. Der.

Antarctica Has One ATM

The banking conglomerate Wells Fargo installed an ATM back in 1998 at McMurdo Station, the largest science hub on the continent. While it is near New Zealand territory, the ATM only dispenses US dollars. Aaaand here it is:

Does it look lonely or is it me?

Note: Most facts have been pilfered from the good folks over at Bored Panda.

Note 2: I have no idea if they’re good folks. I don’t even know them.