A Journey to the Past: When Antarctica Was Covered in Tropical Forests and Dinosaurs Roamed (Photos)

Today, Antarctica is the only ice-covered continent on Earth, but just 90 million years ago, it appeared quite different. It could be assumed that Antarctica resembled a polar desert with colossal ice sheets and glaciers, but in reality, the continent was a marshy land of tropical forests dominated by ferns and coniferous trees, as noted by IFLScience.

A few years ago, scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany and Imperial College found compelling evidence for this. They drilled a core in West Antarctica, approximately 900 kilometers from the South Pole, and managed to extract a soil sample that is about 90 million years old.

The analysis results revealed that the soil sample contains a significant amount of preserved roots, pollen, and spores — in simple terms, during that era, the continent was rich in vegetation and life. This discovery is particularly intriguing considering that for four consecutive months, Antarctica is devoid of sunlight. Yet, despite the lack of light, abundant plant life seemed to thrive here.

According to co-author of the study, Professor Tina van de Flierdt from the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College, the preservation of the 90-million-year-old Antarctic forest is exceptional and unveils a new astonishing world that was previously unknown to us. Even during the months of darkness, marshy temperate tropical forests could grow close to the South Pole — researchers also found that the climate of the continent at that time was warmer than expected.

It is estimated that the average air temperature during that period was about 12°C, which allowed a temperate tropical forest, similar to those found today in New Zealand, to flourish. This period in the mid-Cretaceous is believed by scientists to have been the hottest in the last 140 million years, with sea levels reaching their peak — 170 meters higher than today.

The Cretaceous period also marked the heyday of dinosaurs: during this time, the planet was home to a multitude of different species, including iconic groups. Researchers believe that dinosaurs also inhabited Antarctica during this time — in recent years, many fossils have been discovered. By the way, how dinosaurs managed to survive long polar nights remains a mystery. However, it is suggested that they may have migrated or developed their own survival mechanisms.

Today, Antarctica is covered in ice rather than vegetation. However, scientists believe that this may change in the near future. Currently, only two species are considered native to the region: Antarctic grass and Antarctic moss. Over the past few years, these plants have become more prevalent on the continent, leading scientists to believe that, as a result of climate change, the situation regarding Antarctica's cover may dramatically shift.