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The McMurdo Dry Valleys:


Area Overview | Data | Contact Info

The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are one of the coldest and driest places on earth. Classified as a polar desert, they are the largest non-glaciated area in Antarctica. Scientists began the long-term monitoring of this ecosystem in 1993. Today nearly 10 years of data exists in the following areas: Meteorology, Soil Ecology, Glacier hydrology and mass balance, Limnology, and Stream hydrology and ecology.

Many scientists travel to Antarctica each year from October to February (The southern hemisphere's summer!) to do experiments and collect data.

For more information about the LTER click on the Antarctic map below

 

You can see what it looks like in any direction in Taylor Valley!  A camera has been set up at Lake Fryxell, Lake Bonney and Lake Hoare, and you can adjust it to view any angle you like.  Just follow this link!