Over a hundred years ago in 1911, something strange was found in the glaciers of Antarctica.

Griffith Taylor, an Australian Geologist, had discovered a blood-red stream pouring out of the ice cascades of Taylor Glacier.

Popularly known as the Blood Falls, scientists had not been able to find the reason behind the blood-red liquid flowing through the ice- until recently.

What Causes The Red Color?

Initially, scientists believed that the red color came from the high concentration of red algae in the water. Red algae contain a pigment called phycoerythrin which reflects red light, making the algae appear red.

This theory made sense until it was later found that algae do not play a part in the red color of the flowing liquid at all.

What really causes Taylor Glacier’s waters to appear blood red, is the presence of iron oxide in the liquid. The waters of the blood falls are rich in salt and iron content, and when this water comes in contact with the air, it turns red- just like rust!

The water in these falls is often referred to as ‘brine’ by scientists because of the high salt content in the water. 

Taylor Glacier is a 34-mile long glacier, that is about a million years old, and in an area known for its freezing cold temperatures. The area is covered in and surrounded by ice, and temperatures are too cold for water to remain in its liquid state. How is it then, that the Blood Falls are not frozen?

The Science Behind The Mystery

Researchers at the University of Colorado and the University of Alaska used a radio-echo transmitting system - similar to echolocation that uses sounds waves to identify where objects are located.

Their findings revealed that inside the glacier, there was a network of channels and reservoirs that moved the water around!

It is a well-known fact that saltwater has a lower freezing temperature. In addition, when water undergoes a change in state- for example, from water to ice, it gives off heat. This heat is enough to keep the rest of the brine in liquid form, which is why it flows out of the glacier.

Incredible new chemistry facts found, and mystery solved!