It’s one of the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth — but new satellite images have sparked a wave of theories about what lies hidden beneath Antarctica’s thick ice sheets.
Researchers and internet sleuths alike have been fascinated by a striking, pyramid-shaped peak spotted in the southern Ellsworth Mountain range. Perfectly angular on at least three sides, the formation looks eerily like a man-made structure poking through the snow.
Geologists, however, suggest a less mysterious explanation. The “pyramid” is likely a nunatak — a mountain peak that rises above the surrounding ice, shaped over millions of years by natural erosion and glacial movement. Its sharp lines, they say, are a coincidence of nature rather than proof of ancient civilisations.
Still, that hasn’t stopped speculation. From alien architecture to a lost city beneath the ice, online forums and conspiracy channels have been buzzing with theories. Some even compare it to the pyramids of Egypt, claiming its proportions are “too precise” to be accidental.
Antarctica’s extreme conditions and strict environmental protections mean on-the-ground exploration is limited, leaving the mystery largely unsolved. For now, the icy “pyramid” remains a stunning reminder of how much of our planet is still untouched — and how a single image can ignite imaginations worldwide.
