There’s nothing more impressive than a natural formation. In this day and age, it seems as if scientists can create anything they want, which is incredible. But there’s something more magical about something that has occurred totally naturally and without human interference. While we are discovering more and more about the planet we live on, something always seems to pop up entirely out of the blue, surprising us all over again.
Some of those natural curiosities come found in the depths of trapped ice; some are genuinely horrifying, while others are stunning and will have you struggling to look away. We rely on the pictures of scientists and adventurers to show us these rare images as, otherwise, we would never get the opportunity to see them. These kinds of discoveries help us to appreciate how much we don’t know about our own planet and just how wild, beautiful, and dangerous it can be. It can also preserve much of our history, allowing us to track the strange happenings of the past.
The preserved war of Peio
There is a tiny place in Italy called Peio, which may seem relatively insignificant until you look at some of the discoveries made. The town of Peio had no choice but to be involved in the dark and terrifying First World War. So, in 1915 the soldiers had to battle their enemies on the front, which happened to be over 6,500 feet above sea level.
You might assume that the battle itself claimed the lives of many soldiers. But they were also subjected to the blustering elements and forced to endure freezing conditions that they simply weren’t prepared for. This icy battle became known as The ‘White War’ due to the sheer ferocity of it. It would be many decades later that people would discover the remains of these people. The ice started to melt away in the 1990s, revealing artifacts and mummified bodies.
A buried weapon
This invention is called an atlatl dart and it has been discovered in some very odd places. It’s interesting for weaponry to be discovered as it allows people to understand how the people of that era hunted and defended themselves.
It also helps us to understand how advanced their thinking was and the processes that got them there. These atlatl darts were discovered in another cold preservation area and are believed to be one of the earliest, and most primal forms of weaponry made by humans.
Unusual ice colors
This terrifying looking landscape isn’t quite as worrying as it looks. This is one of Mother Nature’s designs and in a totally random place. Scientists have been able to determine that the red color is due to the water being incredibly rich in iron, which is what gives it the rusted look.
The next question that was then posed was, why is there so much iron? This is the question they’re struggling to answer, and so far the reason is still unknown. Until then, we get to ponder the strange scene. We wonder what the penguins think of it?
The human remains
There’s nothing more worrying than for people to discover human remains; after all, to the untrained eye, it can look pretty suspicious. However, these human remains were found in a lake all the way in the Himalayas. They’re not quite as well-preserved as some others that have been found as they appear to be a pile of bones.
They were discovered a while ago, around 1942, but when you find out how old they are it really puts things into perspective. These bones are from 850 BC. The cause of death may have been a result of the hailstones that were found lodged in the bones.
A warning from the past
Around 1959, a man decided to put a message in a bottle and plonk it right into some glaciers he believed to be melting. This man’s name was Paul T. Walker and the message in the bottle laid out the details of his experiment. He wanted to prove to everyone that global warming was a real issue.
So he suggested in his letter that anyone who found the bottle should endeavor to measure the distance from the furthest point of the glacier’s edge back to the bottle. In 2013, researchers found the bottle and followed the instructions. The measurement was found to have reduced by 200 feet since 1959. The man’s idea worked.
Mammoth Remains
Rather than surrounded totally be ice, this find was discovered on the Laptev Sea coast amongst some permafrost. Hidding there, they found a woolly mammoth’s brain! Most of the mammoth remains that have been found have lost most of its organs.
In this case, the find is one of the only intact brains to be found and it aged at a staggering 39,000 years old. This particular mammoth was only a small child, about six to eight years old.
An icy infection
In 2016, the increasingly warm weather uncovered something terrifying, which would lead to a series of events. It was the first time in a very long time that the ice had melted as much as it had, which uncovered the remains of an infected reindeer. This creature had passed away while carrying a terrible infection called anthrax.
The melting ice that had preserved this infection had totally uncovered it, which allowed the disease to spread and infect the other local reindeer and even the local people. It also caused a small boy to lose his life. This has left scientists concerned about what else may be lurking, preserved in the ice.
Dinosaur
This is a find that we can only look at science and the past to gain a result. Unlike most things found in ice, there is something that comes close to it, that exists today. This was not the case for this monster.
Dating back 110 million years old, this dinosaur would have been alive through the Cretaceous period. Scientists understood that this particular animal evolved with spikes on his body to defend himself. He is referred to by scientists by the name, Nodosaur.
300 Years Old
Throughout history, there have been various species of man found frozen in ice, each discovered at different times throughout the evolution of humans on the earth. Scientists have found the Otzi man as well as the Inca sacrifices frozen in ice.
More recently, a 300-year-old body was discovered and it is one of the closest finds to days First Nations people. They named the body, Long Ago Man. However, it wasn’t just his body that was found, there with him was a walking stick, scales of a fish and a fur coat. It seems he fell into the glacier, never to be found until now.
A mammoth discovery
One of the craziest discoveries is that of a woolly mammoth. These beasts are often taken as things of myths and legends, but there is now preserved evidence of the creatures. There have been many wild things discovered in the ice, but a creature that had been buried for 39,000 years is probably one of the most impressive ones to date.
The body was so well preserved that the fur itself was still attached to the animal! But that’s not all; much of the animal’s internal makeup had also been preserved, including muscle cells and blood. This allowed scientists to take samples. In this modern age, it means they may now have the technology to replicate and clone the creature. Of course, this raises a load of moral questions, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Woolly Rhino
For any animal living outside and especially in the ice, they need to grow a heavy fur coat that ensures they stay warm. Around 10,000 years ago, woolly rhino’s existed. Researchers discovered a deceased 18-month-old rhino that was impressively reserved.
The find was a great one as it helped us to understand a lot more about animals from that time. He was found in the coldest region of Russia in Sakha.
Missing parents
It’s hard to imagine your parents leaving home one day on a trivial grocery run and never returning. For some it’s the stuff of nightmares and, for others, it’s a reality. The children of Francine and Marcelin Dumoulin had been hoping to discover what happened to their parents 75 years ago, and they did.
They were found on a melted Swiss glacier and it is believed that they tragically fell into a crevasse and were unable to get out. They remained there for decades until their bodies were discovered in 2017 by ski workers. They had all their belongings with them and were able to be identified by officials. Their personal effects included identity papers, walking boots, and a prayer book. Since being discovered, the children have held a proper burial for their parents, giving them closure.
Willow Bow
A willow bow was used by man thousands of years ago to hunt reindeer and elk. Given the name due to being carved out of a willow tree, the weapon was found hidden deep inside a block of ice.
A well known Ice Archeologist Tom Andrews celebrated his first find with the willow bow.
Preserved bacteria
You’ve probably heard that there are a variety of different types of bacteria, which do different things, and cause different illnesses if you’re not careful. It’s why we have anti-bacterial hand sanitizers and are urged to keep everything as clean as we can. Well, sometimes bacteria is one step ahead.
This one, in particular, is believed to be a virus that has been frozen for over 30,000 years. That’s some pretty scary stuff, especially when it’s been said that bacteria can survive for millions of years, totally outlasting any of us. This particular strain is from Siberia but only focuses on amoebae, so it’s said not to be fatal to human beings. Wooly mammoths and thousand-year-old viruses; what else has Siberia got to give us?
The eternal rhino
It’s always wild discovering an animal that no longer exists in our modern world, and it allows scientists and historians to piece our past together, discovery by discovery. While mammoths are a remarkable discovery, so are the woolly rhinos.
This poor creature is believed to have passed away at just 18 months old in Russia. The animal’s body was totally covered in fur, allowing scientists to distinguish it from the rhinos we have today.
Squid
This crazy looking image is actually a squid. Not only is it a squid but it is a giant deep-sea squid. This sight baffled scientists and the creature had fur scattered all over his body.
Unsure as to how it got there, how it survived in freezing water and what family of underwater species it comes from, this one sure rocked the scientific boat.
An uncovered ritual
We have come to realize that ice is one of the best preserving agents around, and it’s not hard to understand why when you see this body. A group of three young people was discovered, found to be Inca children of Llullaillaco.
One was older than the other two and has been branded as a higher figure, or of more importance than the other two. Their bodies are so well preserved that scientists were able to determine that they were given some kind of narcotics before being put into a tomb for the sake of an old ritual.
This is actually a volcano
It might not look like it at first glance, but this is a frozen volcano that can be found in Iceland. This place is genuinely cold enough to freeze over this incredible pit of heat, and it’s not the only one either. Scientists have ascertained that the volcano ceased activity as long as 4,500 years ago.
This was a result of the climate becoming far colder than previously. However, as our environment continues to alter and get warmer, this volcano may see some activity in the future. Who knows.
Man’s best friend
It seems these beloved creatures have been by our side longer than we realized. Scientists have found remains of a variety of animals that they could not identify for one reason or another. Sometimes it’s because they are now extinct or they just couldn’t figure out what it could have been.
However, eventually, a team of experts noticed some similarities with the modern dog. They now believe this is one of the earliest forms of evidence for the domestic dog, showing how old our furry friends really are.
Hidden forests
There’s no knowing what is hidden in the ice. We know it’s one of the world’s most excellent preservers, but it can also keep entire forests hidden beneath its surface. More than 1,000 years ago the Mendenhall Glacier passed through Alaska, leaving behind a world of gravel and icy water.
This is what allowed the forest to remain intact as the trees were totally taken within the glacier. It’s only within the last 50 years that the ice has melted, revealing this hidden world, allowing scientists to poke around and examine some of the preserved tree bark.
Hidden worlds
The ice has been able to hide much from the world; it has even hidden a set of islands beneath it’s frozen surface. This has baffled cartographers who have had to re-draw maps to include these new lands.
Global warming continues to affect the ice which exposes these crazy landscapes and scientists fear more could be revealed in the coming years. With waters rising it probably means these lands will soon be smaller anyway as they are partially submerged in the warming sea.
Long lost animals
There is something to the myths and legends within children’s storybooks, as scientists have uncovered the remains of Sabretooth Tigers, proving their existence with all their fur intact. This was both sad and fascinating, as the creatures discovered were young cubs who were likely not able to make it on their own in the wild.
Anything could have happened to their mother in the harsh world they survived in. So, perhaps movies like Ice Age aren’t as far fetched as we thought!
It’s alive!
Some might call it fascinating, others might call it terrifying. Cold climates are great preservers of people and animals who have lost their lives in one way or another; but what about the creatures who are still alive? Alligators are hardy creatures and can survive some of the harshest weathers.
They have a unique ability that allows them to regulate their body temperature and by doing this, they can preserve their internal organs while still being alive! Scientists have often come across these creatures still alive, encased in ice, and had quite the shock.
Frozen buildings
The cold is a crazy thing, and ice formations can be even more insane. While creatures and people may get caught in their harsh grip, it probably didn’t occur to you that buildings can too. This can cause a variety of awe-inspiring icescapes, and strange formations that build around the structures.
It’s not unusual either and apparently is a frequent occurrence in Michigan due to the extreme conditions the area suffers. It’s the kind of picture you would expect at the end of the world.
A mossy wonderland
Every year we see some places have beautiful summers and snowy winters, transforming the area from a glorious summery scene into a winter wonderland. It’s a strange transformation even for the areas where it’s supposed to happen.
However, there are areas where this is not a usual occurrence and areas of moss have been uncovered by the ice melting, showing how well the plant survived under its freezing grasp. The plant was still alive and thriving and able to be re-planted and grown by scientists.
Ancient horse
Horses have long been a faithful and reliable means of human transport. It’s only in the last hundred or so years that they have been replaced by automobiles among other forms of transportation. However, they have been around for far longer than people may have realized.
This horse was discovered and has been pinned to have lived between 600 BC and 1200 B.C. This means the horse is from around the Iron Age and it turns out it may have had to be put down as a result of a broken leg.
A cold doom
People and animals still live in areas that have been totally frozen over and are used to their way of life. Sadly, the frigid cold has claimed the lives of creatures both ancient and modern and will continue to do so.
This fox found that out the hard way and lost its life due to the deadly freezing temperatures it was subjected to. According to some of the locals, it’s not unusual for this to happen. It wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last.
Remaining structures
Many people like to imagine that these creatures and people lose their lives in one fell, miserable swoop of icy disaster. Sometimes this isn’t the case, and it just gets too cold for them to bear any longer. This picture shows the remnants of an old campsite and the structure it was left in.
These could have been put up very quickly to escape the harsh weather, but they were likely not meant to be permanent. They appear to have been slightly more buried so we may not be seeing the full structure, and no remains of the people who used them have been uncovered.