- That hunk of ice down south sure holds many secrets.
What’s there in Antarctica? There’s snow, ice, penguins… And depending on who you ask, a whole heck of a lot more.
A strangely high number of conspiracy theories claims that either there is something secret in Antarctica, or there’s something off about the place in general. In a way, that’s understandable, since the southernmost of all continents is huge, largely unexplored, and virtually has ever gone there.
Still, the theories about what you can actually find down there are pretty wild. Here are eight (often overlapping) examples of wacky conspiracy theories about Antarctica that some folks genuinely believe in.
1. An Antarctic Oasis Hosts an Ancient Civilization
In 1947, American aviator Richard E. Byrd (what a fitting name) spotted something strange when flying over the Ross Ice Shelf. There was a snow-free area, seemingly full of green plants, with an unfrozen lake in the middle.
His discovery sparked a theory that this seeming oasis must have an ancient, forgotten civilization living on it. Those subscribing to this theory claim there’s a secret diary by Byrd that details how landed at the oasis and met the Antarctican tribe.
Today, we know this area as Bunger Hills. It’s not perfectly clear why the area stays snow-free most of the year, but it’s not much an oasis.
The “green plants” of Bunger Hills are nothing but moss and lichen, and the area is still very cold, despite not having much snow. And if you look at it on Google Maps, there’s certainly no tribal settlement.
2. An Ancient Civilization Built Pyramids in Antarctica
Okay, so the ancient civilization probably doesn’t live on the “oasis.” But what if it lives in Antractica’s enormous pyramids instead?
Indeed, news broke in 2016 about gigantic pyramids that were spotted amidst the snows of the southern continent. The tallest of them is 1,265 feet tall, nearly three times the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Why, these immense structures must be the work of a lost civilization that must’ve been the mightiest in the ancient world! How else could anyone have built such a colossal monument?
Well, they couldn’t, because the “pyramid” is a mountain peak part of the Ellsworth Mountains (named after pilot Lincoln Ellsworth who saw them in 1935). Besides, there’s a research base just south of the site and the mountain — not a pyramid — is clearly visible from it.
3. An Ancient Civilization is Buried Under Antarctica
Fine, fine! The ancient civilization isn’t on Antarctica itself. Instead, it has to be buried underneath the ice!
The theory of a lost civilization being buried under the ice originated from claims made by historian Charles Hapgood in the 1950s. He argued that Antarctica was ice-free some 11,600 years ago, so primordial people could’ve settled the continent.
And the name of the civilization they founded? Why, it’s none other than Atlantis, according to theorists.
Now, the last time Antarctica’s outskirts were ice-free was some 9,000 years ago. However, the continent was still behind a vast ocean, and considering the most advanced tool of humanity at the time was a flimsy copper knife, we can safely say no hyper-advanced civilization settled on Antarctica.
4. The Entrance to Hollow Earth is in Antarctica
Alright, this is starting to push it. The strange, lost people of Antarctica must live literally inside the place.
Let us introduce you to the theory of Hollow Earth. A mainstay of early science-fiction literature, this conspiracy theory posits that our planet is in reality hollow and there are mystical creatures and people living inside it.
And the entrance to this hidden world must be in Antarctica. After all, satellite photos show enormous, black holes along the coast of Antractica, and there’s a huge, deep depression hidden under the snow.
Well, those are all meteorite crater with a verifiable bottom. Speaking of the craters, in addition to Hollow Earth, they’ve been claimed to lead to…
5. There is a Secret Nazi Base in Antarctica
Oh, those wacky Nazis. Naturally the high-ups of Nazi Germany would’ve escaped to the uncharted icy wastes following the fall of the Third Reich to establish a new Aryan super state.
This theory hinges mostly on two things. In 1938, Nazi Germany launched an expedition to Antarctica. Additionally, a couple of months after WWII officially ended in 1945, two German U-boats surrendered off the coast of Argentina. They were supposedly carrying Nazi officers to Antarctica.
Well, there’s a couple of issues here. First, that expeditionary force consisted of exactly one ship that was looking for whaling opportunities.
Second, Allied records show there were no traveling officers onboard the surrendered submarines. They had simply been on long missions and hadn’t heard the war was over.
6. There is a Secret Alien Base in Antarctica
But what if instead of Nazis, the Antarctica is home to aliens? The alien theories about Antarctica often cross over with other theories we already mentioned.
For instance, it has been claimed that the giant “pyramid” was built by aliens instead of ancient humans. The craters, meanwhile, could lead to an underground alien base, supposedly.
Yet, the weirdest remnant of alien activity must be their spaceports. Indeed, there are mysterious, almost perfectly rectangular flat areas in Antarctica that look like airport runways.
They’re actually just unusually regularly shaped icebergs, as survey flights over them have found out. That said, researchers haven’t yet discovered why they assume such rectangular shapes.
7. There is a Secret Nazi Alien Base in Antarctica
For some people, it’s not enough that Antarctica hosts Nazis or aliens. Instead, there must be… Nazi aliens!
This bizarre conspiracy theory is really nothing more than an offshoot of the abovementioned secret Nazi base theory, combined with some good old nonsense about Nazi wonder weapons. According to this story, the Nazis were in contact with extraterrestrials and had a secret Antarctica facility where they studied the aliens’ technology.
In 1958, however, the U.S., U.K., and France staged an invasion to wipe that base off the map with a nuclear bomb. Just check the military records — the operation took place, featuring 13 ships, 33 planes, and nearly 5,000 troops.
Well, that operation did happen. However, it was a secret Cold War drill for a potentially icy invasion of the Soviet Union.
8. There is No Antarctica
Finally, we have the conspiracy theory stating that Antarctica doesn’t exist. It usually combines with the Flat Earth movement.
According to this theory, what we know as Antarctica is actually a high wall of ice that keeps water from flowing over the edge of the world. The governments of the world are united in maintaining a strict no-go zone around the wall, which is why no one has seen it.
There’s one glaring issue with this theory. It assumes that all of the world’s governments are somehow able to put their differences to maintain this massive secret. Just look at the state of the world and tell us how well you think that would work out.
It also ignores the fact that Flat Earth theorists flew to Antarctica to prove the famous Midnight Sun doesn’t exist. Spoiler alert — it does.