The interior of this ice cave at the Erebus glacier tongue is cathedral-like. Imagine standing in the cold interior, icy blue stalactites dangling from the cave roof; the sense of awe is overwhelming.
Mt. Erbus is the world’s southernmost active volcano on Ross Island, in Antarctica. Winding its way down its lower slopes is Erebus glacier. Projecting out from the coast, a jagged and thin tongue makes its way into the ice-covered Ross Sea.
The interplay of glacial flow and tides leads to scalloped edges of the tongue where ice caves commonly form. Due to surface melting in the Antarctic summer the interior is filled with intricate icicles and ice crystals.
Erebus Ice Tongue. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and the U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team.
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