In 1911, geologist Griffith Taylor discovered this mysterious scarlet waterfall. Initial expeditions suggested the presence of pigmented algae, but no trace of these microorganisms was detected. It wasn’t until much later that researchers discovered the secret: this color didn’t come from life… but from chemistry.
Beneath the glacier lies an ancient lake, cut off from the rest of the world for over a million years . The water is saturated with iron and very salty. The result? When it reaches the surface and comes into contact with the air, it oxidizes … literally! The iron rusts and tints the water a striking blood red.
How does water stay liquid under miles of ice?
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