A remarkable discovery has been made in East Antarctica, revealing a vast ancient landscape that has remained untouched for more than 34 million years, buried beneath over a mile of glacial ice.

This hidden terrain is located in the remote region known as Wilkes Land, which is roughly the size of Belgium and situated deep inland, far from the coastline. The isolation of this area has kept it largely unknown and unexplored until now.

Thanks to advanced techniques utilizing satellite data and ice-penetrating radar, scientists have unveiled that this ancient world, now sealed under ice, once boasted an ecosystem complete with flowing rivers, dense forests, and possibly even palm trees. In fact, evidence of palm trees, in the form of pollen, has previously been discovered along the nearby Antarctic coast, suggesting a once-lush environment.

Researchers estimate that the buried landscape spans more than 12,000 square miles, which is comparable to the size of the state of Maryland. Professor Stewart Jamieson, the lead author of the study from Durham University, described the find as "like uncovering a time capsule," highlighting the significance of this landscape in understanding Earth's climatic history.

Millions of years ago, as the continents drifted apart, Antarctica moved toward the South Pole, a process that played a crucial role in shaping its current icy state. This movement contributed to the formation of a powerful ocean current around the continent, subsequently isolating it from warmer waters. Simultaneously, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped, triggering a global cooling trend.

These changes led to the creation of massive ice sheets, transforming Antarctica into the frozen desert we recognize today. Researchers have found that the land beneath the East Antarctic ice sheet was once sculpted by flowing rivers, creating valleys and ridges reminiscent of those found in places like Wales and Scotland.

Professor Jamieson emphasized the importance of this research, noting, "The land underneath the East Antarctic ice sheet is less well-known than the surface of Mars." He added that the goal is to investigate this landscape in greater detail to uncover insights about the evolution of both the terrain and the ice sheet itself.

The study has revealed a dramatic ancient landscape that lies buried beneath the thick ice, characterized by towering ridges and deep valleys preserved for millions of years. The researchers identified three massive elevated blocks of ground, each measuring between 75 and 105 miles long and up to 53 miles wide, divided by valleys that can be as wide as 25 miles and plunge nearly 3,900 feet deep.

In contrast to many glaciers that actively erode the terrain beneath them, the ice in this portion of East Antarctica is exceptionally cold and slow-moving, shifting at a rate of less than 16 feet per year. This slow movement has allowed the landscape to remain remarkably well-preserved. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as a "cold-based" ice sheet, indicating that the ice remains frozen to the ground surface, resulting in minimal erosion.

Neil Ross, a professor of environmental geophysics at Newcastle University and co-author of the study, remarked, "It is remarkable that this landscape, hidden in plain sight for many years, can tell us so much about the early and long-term history of the East Antarctic ice sheet." He also pointed out that understanding this ancient landscape is crucial for predicting how it might change in response to future climate change.

Utilizing satellite imagery, researchers detected subtle variations in surface topography and employed computer models to analyze how the landscape has evolved over time. Some regions of the buried terrain have risen as much as 1,600 feet as they are slowly pushed upward by the immense weight of the overlying ice.

Illustrative maps of Antarctica show the current ice surface, the underlying land shape beneath the ice, and climate changes indicated by ocean fossils over time. Areas marked in black represent where ice currently rests on land, while lighter shaded areas indicate floating ice shelves.

The preserved terrain offers an invaluable glimpse into Antarctica's distant past, long before glaciers claimed dominance over the continent. Professor Jamieson noted, "What we find is an ancient land surface that has not been eroded by the ice sheet. Instead, it looks like it was created by rivers before the ice came along."

In its prime, the region likely featured vibrant flowing rivers and dense forests, flourishing in a temperate climate. As the ancient supercontinent Gondwana began to break apart, the tectonic activity generated deep cracks and fissures that progressively segmented the high ground into distinct blocks prior to the arrival of the first glaciers.

As time progressed and the climate continued to cool, small glaciers began to form, gradually deepening the valleys and shaping the landscape into the classic U-shaped formations characteristic of mountain glaciation. Around 14 million years ago, the expanding East Antarctic Ice Sheet engulfed the area in ice, permanently altering the region's geography.

Even during subsequent warm periods, such as the mid-Pliocene, approximately 3 million years ago, the area remained frozen. While ice may have partially melted in surrounding regions during these warmer intervals, it was never enough to expose the ancient terrain beneath.

This discovery holds significant implications today, particularly as Earth approaches carbon dioxide levels and temperatures not seen since those ice-free eras. Scientists warn that if global warming trends continue, certain sections of the ice sheet could potentially retreat, although accessing this ancient landscape would require extensive time, effort, and investment to drill through more than a mile of solid ice.

"We will continue exploring the landscape, doing our best to fill in gaps where surveys don’t exist," stated Professor Jamieson, expressing the commitment to utilize the findings to enhance understanding of how the ice sheet and its underlying landscape have transformed throughout their extensive history.