The structure, appearing distinctly oval and man-made, defies easy explanation. Initially, experts dismissed it as sastrugi—those jagged grooves etched into snow by relentless polar gales. But unlike the typical sharp, fleeting edges of sastrugi, this anomaly boasts smooth, rounded contours that hint at deliberate design. Its unveiling comes H๏τ on the heels of other bizarre finds, including a pyramid-like shape unearthed just months prior and a mᴀssive subterranean “anomaly” stretching 151 miles wide and buried 848 meters deep. These revelations, some captured in NASA-released pH๏τographs, have fueled whispers of ancient human settlements entombed under the ice.

For years, rumors of a concealed city in Antarctica have swirled through the fringes of science and folklore. Conspiracy enthusiasts point to these discoveries as irrefutable proof that the continent was once a thriving hub of life, far removed from its current desolate state. Could this be the fabled Lost City of Atlantis? The theory posits that dramatic shifts in Earth’s crust left parts of Antarctica ice-free around 12,000 years ago, allowing an advanced society to flourish before the last Ice Age sealed it away. Atlantis, first chronicled by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in 360 BC as a utopian realm founded by demigods, has long been sought in places like the Greek island of Santorini. Yet, proponents argue, the icy South Pole fits the bill perfectly.

Adding credence—or at least intrigue—to these claims is the ancient Piri Reis map, compiled in 1513 from military intelligence. This enigmatic chart seemingly depicts Antarctica’s coastline centuries before its official discovery, portraying it as ice-free and teeming with detail. Though scorned by scholars of the era as a forgery or fluke, it’s hailed by theorists as confirmation of a forgotten Antarctic metropolis

An artist’s impression of how a city in Antarctica could look

6 Sastrugi is a natural phenomenon which occurs when high winds blow across the snow, creating sharp, stiff peaksCredit: Getty Images

6 Antartica is largely uninhabited except for penguins

The plot thickens with modern-day enigmas. Earlier this year, a chilling video surfaced, purportedly filmed by a missing California TV crew in 2002, showcasing vast ruins buried in the ice. Archaeologist Jonathan Gray has alleged that a “mᴀssive archaeological dig” is underway two miles beneath the surface, with the U.S. government suppressing the footage to hide the truth. And just last week, explorers stumbled upon the ruins of a clandestine Nazi base in the Arctic, a mere 600 miles from the North Pole—raising questions about what other secrets the poles might hold.

But the wildest tales delve into the realm of the unbelievable. Some claim Antarctica harbors “Base 22” or “New Berlin,” a sprawling Nazi stronghold established during World War II. According to lore, Hitler dispatched expeditions to claim Antarctic territory, where they uncovered a labyrinth of rivers, caves, and a geothermal lake. There, they allegedly built a city-sized fortress, possibly in league with the shadowy Illuminati. Even more outlandish: whispers of abandoned alien technology or extraterrestrial alliances that empowered the Nazis with superweapons. Theorists speculate this base endures today, a launchpad for a sinister New World Order orchestrated by Germans, aliens, and elite cabals.

As scientists grapple with these baffling structures—dismissing some as natural formations while pondering others— the allure of Antarctica’s mysteries only grows. Is it merely the whims of wind and ice, or does this frozen frontier guard the remnants of humanity’s greatest secrets? With each new satellite snapsH๏τ, the line between myth and reality blurs, inviting us to wonder: What else lies waiting beneath the eternal white veil?