Polynesians' Early Antarctic Sightings

There is DNA evidence proving that Polynesians visited the Americas (Chile) in the 1300s, well before Columbus ever reached the New World. There are also stories of Polynesians seeing Antarctica around the year 650 A.D., describing it as "a place of bitter cold where rock-like structures rose from a solid sea," possibly referring to the icy landscapes they encountered near the Ross Ice Shelf.

Previous Fact Next Fact