The ice-free area occupies approximately 2.2 square kilometers.
A new geographical feature has been discovered in Antarctica — an oasis on Cape Berks, found by scientists from Russia, reported the press service of the Saint Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
"Comprehensive study of 18 previously unexplored lakes in this area showed that this oasis is a stable, integral formation on the Earth's surface," the statement said.
The oasis is covered by mountains and valleys, with an average annual air temperature of about minus 12 degrees, and the ice-free area occupies approximately 2.2 square kilometers.
Previously, this oasis was mistakenly classified as a nunatak — an isolated rock formation protruding from a glacier. However, after careful study of numerous lakes with various characteristics, the area was officially recognized as an oasis.
By decision of the Scientific Council of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AANII), the oasis was named in honor of Arnold Bogdanovich Budretsky — an outstanding polar researcher and discoverer of Antarctica.
The final approval of the oasis's name will take place at a meeting of the International Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
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