Volcanos

Earth's Largest Volcanic Region Discovered In Antartica

The largest volcanic region on Earth, with nearly 100 volcanoes, has been discovered two km below the surface of the vast ice sheet in west Antarctica.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Britain found a staggering 91 previously unknown volcanoes, adding to the 47 others that had been discovered over the previous century of exploring the region.

These newly discovered volcanoes range in height from 100 to 3,850 metres, with the highest almost as tall as Switzerland's 3,970 metres Eiger mountain.

These active peaks are concentrated in a region known as the west Antarctic rift system- which stretches 3,500 km from Antarctica's Ross ice shelf to the Antarctic peninsula.

According to geologists, this huge region is likely to dwarf east Africa's volcanic ridge- currently rated as the densest concentration of volcanoes in the world.

There is concern that these volcanoes may become active causing further de-stabilizing of the Antarctic ice sheet.