This Enigmatic Natural Phenomenon Creates a Blood-red Waterfall—What to Know

"Located at the terminus of the Taylor Glacier where it pours into Lake Bonney in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valley, this striking five‑story, blood‑red waterfall is produced by iron‑rich, hypersaline water from an ancient subglacial lake trapped beneath roughly a quarter mile of ice. The water—too salty to freeze and enriched with iron from glacially raked bedrock—oxidizes on contact with the air, producing a rust‑colored flow that leaves dramatic crimson streaks on the surrounding snow and ice. Remote, eerie, and scientifically fascinating, the site is seldom seen in person (fewer than 150,000 people visit Antarctica each year and most itineraries omit the Dry Valleys); sightings are typically from helicopters based at research stations such as McMurdo Station or from helicopter excursions launched from Ross Sea cruises." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines