Antarctic oasis
An Antarctic oasis is a great ice-free region in the otherwise completely by glaciers, ice and snow-covered Antarctica .
geology
A few areas of the Antarctic are ice-free due to special natural conditions. The largest Antarctic oases are the Antarctic dry valleys . These mountain valleys lie on the edge of the continent and are shielded from the inland glaciers by high mountain ranges. The soil can therefore absorb enough solar energy to melt and evaporate the winter's snow. Remnants of snow are carried away by katabatic winds and storms. Nevertheless, temperatures between −50 ° C in winter and −10 ° C in summer also prevail in the oases; temperatures rarely rise above freezing point. The soil in these areas is stony, extremely dry, mostly very salty and lifeless; only a few forms of moss and lichen are found there.
geography
The bigger oases are:
- Antarctic dry valleys (McMurdo Dry Valleys) in Viktorialand (approx. 4900 km²), z. B. Wright Valley , Victoria Valley and Taylor Valley
- Cape Hallett , northern Victoria Land
- Bungerberge , approx. 950 km², between Wilkesland and Queen Mary Land
- Holme Bay , Mac Robertson Land
- Vestfoldberge , approx. 420 km², Princess Elizabeth Land
- Larsemann Hills , Princess Elizabeth Land
- Stillwell Hills , approximately 96 km², Kempland
- Schirmacher Oasis , approx. 34 km², Princess Astrid Coast, Queen Maud Land
photos
Wright Valley , the largest dry valley in Antarctica
Cape Hallett , Victoria Land
Holme Bay at Mawson Station , Mac. Robertson Land
Schirmacher Oasis , Queen Maud Land
Others
The dry valleys, which are similar in structure to the surface of Mars, were used by NASA as a training ground for Mars probes.