“Blood River” or more commonly known as “Blood Falls” is one of the most inhospitable places on planet Earth.
It is set in the remotest part of the Antarctic continent, where life seems to be extinct.
It is actually located between eternal glaciers amid deadly negative low temperatures, where exists a phenomenon, as bewildering as it is mesmerizing. A cascade of red water flowing from the heart of the “Taylor Glacier” that dyes the white ice with a color that is eerily reminiscent of human blood.
This place, known as the “Blood Falls” or “Blood River” was discovered in 1911 by geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor, but what was initially thought to be water dyed by red algae, has today revealed as one of the most unusual and eye-opening mysteries of modern science.
The intense red color does not come from any living organism, but from an absolutely unique geological process, because the water flowing from the glacier has a very high concentration of iron, and when it comes into contact with oxygen, this iron oxidizes, generating such a similar red coloration, likened to rust, or to blood.
It is good to know that this water has been trapped under ice for over a million years, isolated from the atmosphere, in extreme conditions of darkness, pressure and salinity. Inside that icy prison, scientists have found microbes that survive with no light, no oxygen and no heat, leading NASA to study this area as a possible analogy of life on other planets, such as Mars or Jupiter’s icy moons.
One of the great curiosities about this phenomenon is that, although Taylor Glacier appears to be completely frozen, liquid water flows beneath its surface thanks to the highest concentration of salt, even saltier than seawater. This liquid acts as a natural antifreeze, and that constant flow keeps the waterfall active, albeit intermittently. Another little-known fact is that these hypersaline waters contain one of the oldest and purest ecosystems on the planet, protected by a natural ice barrier that prevents any kind of external pollution. Therefore, it is considered a living laboratory that allows us to understand how life on Earth could have originated.
For travelers who dream of visiting this forbidden corner of the world, they should know that visiting the Blood Falls is not an ordinary tourist experience. It can only be accessed through scientific expeditions or highly specialized private trips departing from New Zealand or Australia, and usually have a high cost, and require rigorous physical and medical preparation. There is no tourist infrastructure, no marked roads, and weather conditions can be extreme and unpredictable. It is also mandatory, to have special permits, a certified technical team, and a strict adherence protocol in order to follow the environmental regulations of the Antarctic Treaty.
Still, if you’re determined to include this place on your list of dream destinations, I recommend you plan at least one year in advance, look for companies with experience in polar expeditions, and consider international travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. Also, you should keep in mind that the Australian summer months, from November to February, are the only ones where weather allows a relative window of access. Most tours don’t guarantee seeing the waterfall flowing, as it depends on the internal thaw, but even at rest, its reddish presence on the white ice is absolutely striking.
Naturally the “Blood River Falls” not only defy the laws of geology and biology, but they invite us to rethink the boundaries of life itself.
Because they are a reminder that our planet holds unfathomable secrets in even the most extreme places, and that there is still much to explore. If you are a traveler passionate about the unknown, natural enigmas and surreal landscapes — then, this wondrous part of Antarctica, represents a frontier where science and mystery go hand in hand, in a silent but unforgettable spectacle of nature…
Yours,
Dr Churchill
