Hidden deep within Antarctica’s icy wilderness stands a mysterious mountain peak that looks almost identical to a man-made pyramid, complete with four symmetrical sides.
The formation, located in the Ellsworth Mountains, has become the subject of viral fascination and wild theories ever since its images began circulating online in 2016. Many have compared its geometric precision to the Great Pyramids of Egypt, claiming it could be evidence of an ancient civilization buried beneath the ice.
Although the peak was first documented by the British Antarctic Expedition (1910–1913), its eerie appearance didn’t gain mainstream attention until decades later, when satellite imagery and viral photos reignited global curiosity, The Sun reports.
Conspiracy theories about the Antarctic pyramid
At 4,150 feet tall, the mountain appears to have four perfectly symmetrical faces, leading many to believe it could not have been formed by natural means.
Online users quickly flooded social media with bizarre and imaginative theories. Some claimed the pyramid was built by a lost ancient society that existed before Antarctica froze over, “a civilization from before the Great Flood,” one user suggested.
Others speculated it might be an alien base, or even part of a secret Nazi stronghold built during World War II. One commenter joked: “Wait, how did they move the pyramids from Egypt to Antarctica?” while another declared: “Illuminati confirmed.”
Despite the outlandish claims, scientists have since debunked the myths, and their explanation is far more down to earth.
Geologists reveal the real reason behind the pyramid shape
According to experts, the Antarctic “pyramid” is not a man-made structure at all but a natural mountain formation shaped over millions of years by erosion.
Geologist Dr. Mitch Darcy, speaking to IFL Science, explained: “The pyramid-shaped structures are located in the Ellsworth Mountains, which is a range more than 400 km long, so it’s no surprise there are rocky peaks cropping out above the ice. It’s simply a coincidence that this one has that shape.”
He added that the formation is what’s known as a nunatak, a rocky peak that protrudes through a glacier or ice sheet. The sharp, pyramid-like appearance is the result of freeze-thaw erosion, where water seeps into cracks in the rock, freezes, and expands, eventually breaking pieces off over time.
Three sides of the mountain appear to have eroded at a similar rate, while the fourth developed independently, creating the illusion of a perfect pyramid, per Live Science.
A natural wonder, not alien architecture
While the mountain may not be proof of aliens or ancient civilizations, its mysterious symmetry continues to capture imaginations worldwide.
Antarctica’s vast, frozen landscape remains one of Earth’s least explored regions, and every strange discovery, like this pyramid-shaped peak, reminds us how nature can often be just as awe-inspiring as myth.