Scientists are going to explore Antarctica’s famous mystery – the Gamburtsev Mountain Range. Researchers believe this journey to be the last great expedition on our planet.
      
      The Gamburtsev Mountain Range is located in Eastern Antarctica. It is approximately 1200 km long, and the highest point is about 3,400 metres from base to point, although it is completely covered by over 600 m of ice and snow. The Gamburtsev Mountain Range is currently believed to be about the same size as the European Alps, and, as of 2008, it is unknown how the mountains were formed.
      
      Researchers are going to find out how this mountain range was formed and conserved in the heart of the Antarctica. Geologists wonder how did mountains appear in the middle of the continent – they should not have been formed.
      
      The expedition will be multinational – polar explorers come from USA, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, China and Japan – and is expected to last for 2.5 months.
      
      “Ghost mountains” were discovered in 1958 by 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition and named after great Soviet seismologist Grigory Gamburtsev.
      
      The expedition expects receiving important data on climatic processes of South and North poles. Seismometers will detect traces of earthquakes in order to help scientists to understand deep structure of the mountains.
      
      Samples of ancient ice with air inclusions will tell researchers about the environment of the mountains millions years ago.
      
      Source: BBC