This photo is looking almost straight down at a frozen lake in the Dry Valleys. The dark rocks absorb a lot more sunlight than most of the continent, making this area the warmest in Antarctica in summer. Temperatures as high at 59°F (15°C) have been recorded in the Dry Valleys. The warmth allows some of the ice to melt, creating streams and lakes. Many of the lakes, like this one, have permanent ice cover but melt around the edges, near the warm rock. Others are far saltier than the ocean and remain liquid down to very low temperatures.

<-Previous Photo||Next Photo->

Dome C Page
Return to Home
Page created 22 May 2005, Last updated 15 June 2005 21:37 Pacific Daylight Time