Deep beneath its ice and snows of Antarctica can hide a miracle of nature. A new analysis of satellite data has led scientists to believe that the largest canyon in the world is located deep under the frozen crust of this uninhabited continent.
What extends more than 800 kilometers long system of canyons has a depth of one kilometer. For example, the depth of the Grand canyon reaches one and a half kilometers, but its length is “only” a little over 440 miles.
Lead researcher, Dr. Stuart Jamison of geography faculty of Durham University, said:
“We received the first confirmation of the existence of a giant canyon and likely lakes under the ice on the land the Princess Elizabeth. It’s amazing how such large geographical objects remained undetected for so many years”.
How can you find the canyon is completely hidden under the layers of ancient ice? The researchers were able to do this with the help of satellite photographs, which were detected faint traces of the presence of the monumental canyon deep under ice, and special sonar.
The next step will be the compilation of accurate maps of the canyon. Currently, scientists continue to explore the find to use are installed on aircraft sonar: these studies will continue until the end of 2016. Who knows what other discoveries await us. Let’s hope that all this noise doesn’t Wake any sleeping in the ice of Antarctica an Ancient Evil.
According to the materials of Popular Mechanics