What Do We Really Know About Antarctica?

What Do We Really Know About Antarctica?

The sheer vastness of Antarctica is stunning. Despite it being the fifth-largest continent, containing 70 percent of the world’s fresh water in its glacier, it remains largely unexplored – not to mention what lies beneath the ice.

The documented discovery of Antarctica is somewhat ambiguous as far as crediting one particular person, but it has been generally accepted that it occurred around 1820. However, there have been alternative theories positing that the continent may have been discovered centuries earlier by ancient civilizations – possibly influenced by extraterrestrial technology.

1513 Piri Reis Map during the Ottoman Empire

The evidence of an earlier discovery of Antarctica is thought to be found in the Piri Reis Map, created by the Ottomans in 1513 shortly after Columbus’ discovery of the Americas. The map was drawn by a cartographer of the same name who claimed to have drawn the map, not from his own personal knowledge and expeditions, but from more than 20 source maps already available to him in Turkish libraries at the time. He also stated that these maps predated the reign of Alexander the Great (356 -323 BC). 

The map was unexpectedly discovered in a library Constantinople in 1929. This map was drawn to such accuracy that it depicted the coastlines of South America and Antarctica within half a degree of longitude.

The extent of their mapping of the continent is seemingly more advanced than early cartographers were capable of creating.

Map of Piri Reis

Antarctica: Land of Secrets

A Warmer Continent

Dr. John Weihaupt, an emeritus professor of Geology at the University of Colorado Denver, was a proponent of the belief that Antarctica was discovered significantly earlier than we’ve been told, though the actual means of discovery, he claims are unknown.

Ancient Antartica

According to some, the Piri Reis map appears to show the subglacial topography of Antarctica during a time of warm weather that harbored life. A study by scientists from LSU and Rice University found deposits of pollen fossilized in layers of sedimentary rock, showing signs of a tundra warm enough for plant growth as recently as 12 million years ago.

However, theories focusing on the Piri Reis Map would suggest a warmer Antarctic climate much more recently.

Pyramids and Odd Structures

The discovery of several four-sided pyramids has ignited another curiosity as to the mysticism surrounding Antarctica. Some claim that the pyramids could be the work of ancient or alien civilizations, while others say that they are simply nunataks —protruding peaks of mountains buried beneath the ice, shaped by erosion. However, the distinctly shaped sides of each face are what alternative theories see as evidence of the pyramids being man-made. An additional dome-shaped structure protruding from beneath the ice has raised further questions and perpetuated the belief of an ancient civilization buried beneath that the Ottomans may have been aware of or contacted.

Google Earth view of Antarctic pyramids

Google Earth view of Antarctic pyramids

 

Ancient ruins found in Antarctica

Dome appearing to have multiple cells protruding from ice in Antarctica

Underground Tunnels and Military Bases

An image showing what appears to be several tanks and a downed aircraft have added to the prospect of government military action or secret bases on Antarctica. During WWII there was evidence, some rumored and some confirmed, of Nazi military programs that established bases on the continent, supposedly researching extraterrestrial technology. Conversely, during a naval expedition dubbed, Operation Highjump, Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd is purported to have been exposed to extraterrestrial technology.

Some interpret Byrd’s claim of seeing aircraft that “are able to fly from one pole to the other with incredible speed,” as a UFO sighting, whereas others interpret it as a warning of the possibility of an attack from planes subversively flying over the poles to reach their targets without detection. However, both of these interpretations seem to hint at Nazi activity on Antarctica.

Antartica tanks

An image appearing to show tanks facing unknown craft



Mount Roraima: A Floating Island Shrouded in Mystery

Mount Roraima: A Floating Island Shrouded in Mystery

Hiking is a great way to explore nature, get exercise, spend time with friends, and … travel back in time?

Even for the most seasoned of explorers, Mount Roraima, a plateaued mountain about 1,300 feet high, located where Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana converge, might prove to be an experience far beyond the typical.

Mount Roraima National Park, also known as “Monte Roraima” and the “floating island of Venezuela,” is different than the usual hiking trail or even the usual mountain. Its remote location, mixed with the mysterious air of untouched territory and indigenous folklore, makes it an adventure that promises much more than many who climb it bargained for.

Mount Roraima History

Before European conquistadores arrived in South America, indigenous populations revered Mount Roraima as a regional symbol, referring to it as the “Axis Mundi,” a tree where all the world’s fruits and vegetables grow. It was a peaceful and tranquil place, protected by the Macuxi people.

However, over time, the arrival of foreigners in search of El Dorado and landscapes steeped with gold meant that the purity of Mount Roraima would not remain intact forever.

Later, the arrival of miners marked a change in the environment of Mount Roraima, with alcohol, violence, prostitution, and venereal disease infecting the area. High-pressure water hoses blasted open the land in search of treasure left pools of water, which bred disease. The Macuxi thought they would be able to peacefully coexist and work together with the miners, but this turned out not to be the case.

The trend continued into the present day.

The Brazilian government sought to build dams, roads, and form a municipal government over the territory, claiming those in the region wanted the same infrastructures as the rest of the country. However, the Macuxi stood their ground against the changes, blocking construction and impeding the development where possible.

For the time being, the dam project has been abandoned, with the governor citing the expense to reach the remote location as the primary reason for leaving it behind, not the Macuxi resistance.

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