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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Antarctica

32 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Antarctica

Updated January 19, 2023

Unusual Attractions in Antarctica

Antarctica

Blood Falls

Natural time capsule containing an alien ecosystem.

Antarctica

Deception Island

An abandoned whaling station on an active volcano offers hot springs in Antarctica, surrounded by ruined giants of industry.

Antarctica

Mt. Erebus

Fire meets ice at the southernmost volcano on Earth.

Antarctica

The Bar at Vernadsky Research Base

The world's southernmost bar.

Antarctica

Antarctic Exploration Museum & Post Office

The best place to send your postcards home from Antarctica.

Antarctica

The Ceremonial South Pole

Naked scientists race around the pole in the frigid cold to try to join Antarctica's exclusive 300 Club.

Antarctica

Trinity Church on King George Island

Russian Orthodox church built on an Antarctic island.

Antarctica

IceCube Research Station

The world's largest neutrino telescope searches for secrets of the universe at the South Pole.

See All 32 Things To Do in Antarctica

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Antarctica

Antarctica

The Bar at Vernadsky Research Base

The world's southernmost bar.

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Guided Tours of Antarctica

Explore Antarctica

Martian Landscapes 7

Natural Wonders 5

Architectural Oddities 5

Geological Oddities 5

Abandoned Research Stations 5

Dead Explorers 4

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Stories About Antarctica

The Intrepid, Furry Explorers Who Mapped Antarctica

Peek inside the "employment records" of Great Britain’s sled dogs.

by Andrew Avery

January 19, 2023

Capturing the Mysterious Antarctic Whale Gathering on Film

No one was sure about the size of these almost-mythical wildlife events—until we got it all on camera.

by Bertie Gregory

January 12, 2023

Remembering the 'Ice Widows' of a Doomed Antarctic Expedition

For more than a century, their stories were ignored—until now.

September 15, 2022

Podcast: The Loneliest Post Office

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

September 6, 2022

Podcast: Discovery Hut

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

August 24, 2022

The Art of Eating Well in Antarctica

With resourcefulness and a little help from international neighbors, a volunteer crew thrived in the icy landscape.

by Sam Lin-Sommer

August 23, 2022

Meet the Man Who Wants to Make Sitting an Extreme Sport

A day at your desk will not prepare you for this grueling competition.

by Laura Kiniry

Remembering a Little-Known Chapter in the Famed Endurance Expedition to Antarctica

The epic survival story of Ernest Shackleton and his crew included a harrowing journey to Elephant Island.

by Ranulph Fiennes

January 18, 2022

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