Bloody waterfall is located in the Northern part of Taylor glacier
When the researchers of the Antarctic in 1911 he discovered the waterfall of blood-red color, gushing from the glacier, they suggested that this unusual color of the water is given by microscopic algae contained in it. The place quickly became known as a Bloody waterfall, although there was no blood, no algae.
In fact, the red color of the water gives the contained ferrous iron, which is immediately oxidized upon contact with air. The water comes from a salty underground lake, so that it rather be called brine, that is a very concentrated solution of salts.
Bloody waterfall is located in the Northern part of Taylor glacier, which stretches for 100 miles through the Transantarctic mountains. Under the Taylor glacier is a small lake with salty water, there is so much salt that the water cannot freeze. Taylor glacier was formed about 1.5 million years ago, and long remained constrained. As the lake is frozen from the water came out warm, which melts the ice, and the water gradually did his way out.
Recent studies have found that the brine is actually home to some very hardy bacteria. These microbes are cut off from the world for thousands of years, there was nothing to feed on, in addition to sulfates. Trapped under the glacier, where there is no light and oxygen, bacteria began to process them. Scientists believe that this amazing example of survival may not be limited to the Taylor glacier.
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