Gamburtsev mountain range discovered beneath East Antarctic ice sheet via radar. In the 1990s and 2000s, scientists used ice-penetrating radar mounted on aircraft to map bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. The Gamburtsev Mountains were discovered beneath the East Antarctic ice sheet, rising to over 3,000 meters with peaks, valleys, and glacially carved ridges. The range is comparable in scale to the European Alps and was completely unknown before radar surveys.

Beneath East Antarctic ice lies the Gamburtsev mountain range, discovered via ice-penetrating radar in the 1990s-2000s. Peaks rise over 3,000m—rivaling the Alps! 🏔️🧊

Key Facts

  • In the 1990s and 2000s, scientists used ice-penetrating radar mounted on aircraft to map bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet.
  • The Gamburtsev Mountains were discovered beneath the East Antarctic ice sheet, rising to over 3,000 meters with peaks, valleys, and glacially carved ridges.
  • The range is comparable in scale to the European Alps and was completely unknown before radar surveys.
  • The Gamburtsev Mountains may have formed over 500 million years ago and were preserved beneath the insulating ice.