7 There is a waterfall in Antarctica, known as the “Blood Falls,” that has a high amount of iron and is devoid of oxygen. Its water turns blood red when gets exposed to air while falling down!

Though the Antarctic is considered to be the largest desert in the world, it unusually houses waterfalls too. One of the waterfalls found in the McMurdo Dry Valley region is the Blood Falls which looks like blood flowing from the glaciers. Research conducted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks has shown that the reason for the waterfall turning blood-red is the reaction of the large amounts of iron and sodium present in the water with oxygen when exposed to air. Hence, the red color is due to the oxidized iron, the same way how iron turns crimson red when it rusts. Until recently, it was believed that the algae have caused the discoloring of water. (source)

8 Tinder debuts in the Southern Hemisphere as a male scientist stationed in Antarctica managed to score a date through Tinder with a woman camping just 45 minutes away.

Being a scientist itself makes an individual secluded and being in the Tundra Region make it even worse. Having a good company in the Antarctic region is priceless and mostly impossible! But in an amazing event in 2014, tinder was successful in finding a match for an American scientist stationed on the loneliest place on earth. As near as a 45-minute helicopter ride, the scientist found a woman, another researcher. He swiped right, and almost immediately he was notified that “it’s a match!” For, as strange as it sounds, the company agrees that this might be their first successful match in the Antarctic continent. However, sadly, the woman was scheduled to leave the very next day, and hence, the scientist could not get hooked up! (1, 2)

9 If you wish to stay in Antarctica to experience the winter, you will have to comply with one of the strangest rules: getting your wisdom teeth and appendix removed!

In summers, around 1,000-1,500 people stay in the Antarctic region. Most of them are researchers and others are support staff and expeditioners. Though the summers here are by no means pleasant, winters present a far worse scenario. The majority of the visiting population leaves the place except for a few support personnel and long-term, observational researchers. However, if you choose to stay there in winter, you will have to get your wisdom teeth and your appendix removed. The reason behind this bizarre-sounding requirement is that in a medical emergency, you cannot be evacuated during winters. Even if you are going to work as a doctor in Antarctica, you will have to get your appendix removed prior to your journey. (1, 2)

10 The only ATM center in Antarctica is operated by Wells Fargo Bank. It has two ATM machines, and it takes 10 months to complete a single money-replenishment service!

Though Antarctica is a place where shopping is your last priority, there are situations where money matters a lot in the tundra. And scarily, there is only one ATM center, with two ATM machines. Both of these are run by Wells Fargo Bank and it is one of the toughest destinations for ATM administrators. These two ATMs are installed at the McMurdo’s station which happens to be the largest science hub on God’s green (& white) Earth! To survive the Antarctic weather, you need food and beverages, postal services, or even some chocolates, and all these require money. So, if you have the thought in your mind that you won’t need any money while in Antarctica, kindly update it. (1, 2)

11 There is Chilean village in Antarctica, which houses a school with 15 students and 3 computers, a post office and one banker, and it is called Villa Las Estrellas.

Villa Las Estrellas is one of the only two residential settlements in the entire continent of Antarctica. It is a Chilean settlement and also functions as a tourist destination. The town has a school, a post office, a banker, and a population of around 100 people. This count of people goes down in the winters. Villa Las Estrellas, which means “Town of the Stars” in Spanish, offers ski expeditions and sight-seeing of the majestic South Pole. It is a typical Chilean village and offers a great experience to visitors. There is also a small guest house that can accommodate 20 guests at a time. The town also has facilities like TV reception, a radio station, and Internet access, though Internet usage is strictly limited to the three computers in the school. (source)

12 The Antarctic Treaty of 1961, a part of the Antarctic Treaty System, signed by several countries, recognizes no sovereign claim of Antarctica and prohibits any military activity, but allows scientific research.

The Antarctica Treaty was first signed on the 1^st of December, 1959 by twelve countries, and it came into force in 1961. Since there is no native human population on the southern continent, this treaty was signed in order to avoid any clashes between nations over sovereignty. This treaty prohibits any military activity in the region except as aid to peaceful scientific research. Though Argentina has claimed sovereignty over a vast part of Antarctica, the claim is not recognized internationally. Initially, twelve countries had signed the treaty, and currently, 53 have become a party to the treaty by signing it. The treaty had made possible the large scale of scientific research on the land without any political or military disturbance. Countries like the USA, UK, Australia, Argentina, Russia, etc., have set up their respective scientific research stations in different parts of the continent. The headquarters of the Antarctica Treaty System is established in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (1, 2)